Puberty

 

What is puberty?

Basically puberty is when your body changes from being a child to being an adult. This usually happens between ages eight and fourteen for girls and between ages nine and fifteen for boys. And most often, girls will start to notice changes about two years before boys do. There are a lot of changes involved that happen slowly as over time. It is totally normal and is a part of growing up. Your body goes through a lot of changes during puberty. And your emotions might start to feel more intense or stronger. This is all also normal!

All of these changes won't happen at once. They will come in phases and take multiple years. You might see some signs of puberty at an early age and still not see others until years later. Our bodies are all unique. That means that puberty is different for each and every person. We all go through it at our own pace. So, even if your friend has started puberty and you are the exact same age, that doesn't mean your body is ready to start making those changes yet.

While puberty is totally normal and a part of life for everyone, it is still common to feel scared, anxious, confused and/or excited about it. Knowing what to expect with puberty can make these changes feel less stressful or weird. Also, talking to your parents or another adult you feel comfortable with will help! They can tell you so much more than your friends can. Turn to these adults when you can. They have already gone through puberty (obviously) and can understand exactly what you are going through and how you feel. Plus, they can give you some good advice.

So, what happens to your body during puberty?

Here are some things that everyone is going to experience:

• You will start to sweat more and you might smell (body odor). You might want to shower more and start using deodorant.
• Hair will grow under your armpits.
• Hair will grow around your genitals. This is called pubic hair.
• You might get acne (pimples or zits) on your body or face. If these stress you out, talk to your parents. They can help with over the counter medicine.
• More hair will grow on your arms and legs

Things females are going to experience:

• You will start getting your period. Head here to learn more about this.
• Your hips will get wider and your body may become curvier.
• Your breasts will develop and get bigger.
• Your labia (the lips of the vulva) might get bigger and change color.

Things males are going to experience:

• Your chest and shoulders get more broad.
• You might grow hair on your face, chest, and back.
• Your penis and testicles get bigger.
• Your voice gets deeper. Sometimes it might crack while it is changing, but this is normal.
• Your Adam's apple (the bump in your throat) might become more visible and get bigger.
• You might have swelling around your nipples.

During puberty there is a good chance you will start having more sexual thoughts and feelings. You might feel attracted to females, males, or both. You might start to notice that you are sexually excited or turned on a lot. These feelings won't be quite as strong as you get older. Some people choose to masturbate to release these sexual feelings and to explore them more. Other people decide to wait for the feelings to go away on their won. Both of these options are completely normal.

Puberty is controlled by hormones, your feelings and emotions will be different during this time because they are also controlled by hormones. It is totally normal to have your moods change quickly and randomly during this time. These are called mood swings.

Watch the vide below to learn more about what is normal during pubery.

Even though puberty is something that happens to everyone, scientists still don't really know that much about it. However, there is a study from the University of Columbia that sheds some light on why puberty usually happens in the early teen years.

I'm sure that you still have some questions and concerns. Here are some of the most common puberty concerns.

• Body odor. Make sure to shower regularly. Using deodorant or antiperspirant can help too.
• Acne. Remember to wash your face once or twice every day with a gentle cleanser or mild soap and warm water. This will go a long way.
• Breast size. Breasts come in a variety of shapes and sizes. It’s also totally normal (and common) for one breast to be larger than the other.
• Penis size. Boys should know that there’s a wide range of normal penis sizes.
• Weight gain. You might struggle with your physical appearance as it changes during puberty. Take time to love yourself and to embrace these changes. Stay active and eat a healthy diet. Being healthy is much more important than what the scale says.
• Questions about gender. It's possible you will feel unsure about what gender means to you. You might want to explore these feelings with your parents, your pediatrician, or a counselor.
• Erections and ejaculation. Erections can happen spontaneously without sexual fantasies or touching. Ejaculations can happen during masturbation or as a nocturnal emission (a wet dream). Just clean up after yourself and move on with your day.
• Masturbation. Masturbation is a way for teens to explore your bodies and discover your sexuality. It is a completely normal part of growing up and puberty.
• Vaginal discharge. Girls might notice thin, clear, or whitish discharge on their underpants 6 months to a year before they get their periods. A change in color, itchiness, or unpleasant odor may be signs of an infection.

Puberty is a complex time with lots of changes. Make sure to give yourself time and space to adjust. It is okay if you are not completely comfortable with each change as it happens. It is also okay if you are. Ask questions, explore, and trust in who you are and who you are becoming.

References:

Puberty, developmental processes, and health interventions - NCBI bookshelf. (n.d.). Retrieved August 19, 2022, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK525269/

Pereira, L., Aeschimann, F., Wang, C., Lawson, H., Serrano-Saiz, E., Portman, D. S., Großhans, H., & Hobert, O. (2019, January 1). Timing mechanism of sexually dimorphic nervous system differentiation. eLife. Retrieved August 19, 2022, from https://elifesciences.org/articles/42078 

Read "adolescent development and the biology of puberty: Summary of a workshop on new research" at nap.edu. New Research on Adolescent Development and the Biology of Puberty | Adolescent Development and the Biology of Puberty: Summary of a Workshop on New Research |The National Academies Press. (n.d.). Retrieved August 19, 2022, from https://nap.nationalacademies.org/read/9634/chapter/2