Puberty For Boys

WHAT HAPPENS DURING PUBERTY?

Puberty is a series of changes your body goes through as you grow.

Your body produces hormones which change your body and they can also affect your emotions. Getting used to all the changes can sometimes be stressful.

It is a time when you grow very fast and your body changes into an adult body.

Puberty usually starts between ages 10 to 14 in boys, but it may start earlier or later. You may not go through puberty at the same time or in the same way as friends your age do. Puberty usually ends by about age 15 or 16 in boys.

WHAT TO EXPECT DURING PUBERTY

You'll go through lots of changes during puberty. Some changes are obvious to other people, like growing taller, and some only you will know about.

Facial, body and pubic hair

When you go through puberty you might start to grow hair under your arms, on your face and chest, around your penis, and on your legs and arms.

It's your choice whether you decide to shave your facial hair. If you decide to shave, you’ll need a buy razor and shaving gel or cream or an electric razor. You can buy them from a supermarket or pharmacy and you might need to ask your parent or carer if you don’t have your own money.

To avoid shaving rash it’s a good idea to wash before shaving, keep your razor clean and to replace the blades or your disposable razor when the blades are blunt Most people grow pubic and body hair, some people grow more hair than others.

It’s up to you whether to remove your pubic or body hair.

Sweating more

As you go through puberty you might find you sweat more. This is because your sweat glands change and produce more sweat to help control your body's temperature.

Keeping the areas that you sweat, like your armpits, clean and dry will help to stop any smell developing. It's important to wash, bath or shower once or twice a day, wear clean clothes and you can also wear deodorant or antiperspirant.

If you sweat a lot try wearing loose-fitting clothes, cotton material will help you to cool quicker than polyester or nylon. Change your socks regularly and wear different shoes when you can.

Erections

An erection is when your penis goes hard and stiff. It's normal for an erect penis to be slightly bent or curved and this is nothing to worry about.

Erections can happen when you’re thinking about sex or about someone you find attractive. Sometimes you might get an erection when you don't expect it – like at school or on the bus. This may seem embarrassing but it happens to most boys.

Producing sperm

Sperm are made in the testicles (balls) and are part of the fluid called semen that you ejaculate from your penis.

Semen is usually white or grey, but can occasionally appear yellowish. Semen becomes more sticky and jelly-like after ejaculation before it turns to liquid again after about 5 to 40 minutes.

Growth spurts

Growth spurts may cause you to grow 4 or more inches taller in a year. Some boys have one big growth spurt. Others have several smaller growth spurts. Your feet and hands will grow longer and wider. Your feet and hands may grow faster or finish growing before you see other puberty changes. Your arms and legs may grow longer and faster, causing your chest and waist to look short. Over time, your body will even out.

Voice changes

Voice changes mean your voice may start to crack or sound different. This happens as your larynx (voice box) and your vocal cords grow. When they are finished growing, you will have a lower, deeper adult voice.