Puberty
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Like all other species on Earth, humans reproduce so that the species can continue to grow! In order to reproduce, the human body has a reproductive system that contains organs specifically meant for reproduction. The male and female reproductive systems are different, but they work together to reproduce. However, this system of organs must grow and mature before reproduction can happen -- as you grow, so do these organs! This process of growth and development is called puberty. Everyone’s body is different, and so everyone goes through puberty in slightly different ways or times. Typically puberty occurs during the teenage years and it can look a little different for everyone! One thing that is common, though, is that puberty means your body is changing. You might start getting taller, or sweating a bit more, but not to worry: it’s all normal. If you have any questions about what’s changing in your body, try asking a family member, a teacher, or another adult -- and don’t feel embarrassed: puberty happens to everyone and it’s an essential part of growing up! Keep reading for some more specifics on what to expect with puberty.
Fun fact: other animals go through puberty too -- even through the process takes different amounts of time and looks a bit different!
General!
Some parts of puberty are common for all bodies, even though they might happen at different times or in different ways.
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Acne!
Acne is when zits or pimples appear on your skin, on your face or other parts of the body. It can happen when the skin gets oily and oil or dirt blocks the pores of your skin. Acne is a common part of puberty, and it’s best to manage it by washing your face regularly and not itching or scratching at the zits. Acne is nothing to be embarrassed about -- it’s just part of growing up, and usually the pimples will go away with time and with proper cleansing of the skin. If you are concerned about acne, talk to your doctor or a dermatologist: they will be able to give you the proper information for how to best treat your skin.
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Romantic/Sexual attraction
As your body releases sex hormones, it is normal to develop sexual urges or desires. Masturbation is the self stimulation of the genitals through touching or rubbing, and it can feel good. By masturbating, you can release sexual tensions and explore your sexuality. It is a normal part of developing, and it’s also normal to not masturbate! The choice is yours, but either way, masturbation is not something to be feared, nor is it gross.
Growth spurts!
Puberty is a time for physical maturation, also known as: growing! During puberty, you will grow taller and gain muscle. This growth can happen throughout puberty, and by the end of it, you will reach your adult height. Sometimes you may have “growth pains,” or some aches in your bones or joints as they grow. This is normal and will go away with time, but if the pain is extreme, talk to your parents or a doctor. Another thing that is normal about growth spurts is gaining weight. As you grow taller and grow larger muscles, it makes sense that you will weigh more! Your body needs nutrients and fuel to keep you healthy and growing, so it is important to eat good food during puberty! Remember that weight gain is normal and necessary. Another part of the growing body is stretch marks: lines on your body that can happen during sudden growth -- they are normal and beautiful, and anyone can have them!
Fun fact: Some growth spurts can be as much as 4 inches a year!
Hair growth on different parts of the body!
With puberty, you’ll see the growth of hair...all over your body. In your armpits, on your face, your arms and legs, your back and stomach, your genitals (hair around your genitals is called pubic hair)-- hair will grow everywhere! This hair may also become darker. Everyone has hair, and it’s nothing to be embarrassed about if you have a lot of it!
Shaving: As people grow hair, there is also the option of shaving it. Shaving hair on your arms, legs, face, pubic hair, or anywhere else is a personal choice. The most important thing is to make sure you are being safe while shaving: using a proper razor, lotions or creams, etc -- talk to a parent or other adult about shaving or other hair removal options like waxing. But remember: you don’t NEED to remove hair, it’s completely up to you.
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Sweat and body odor!
During puberty, your sweat glands mature just like the rest of your body. This means more sweating! Sweating is an important bodily process in order to cool yourself down and release toxins -- but it can also stink! It’s important to maintain proper hygiene: taking a shower or bath and using deodorant are common ways to manage body odor.
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Your voice!
As your voice box grows with the rest of your body, it is normal for your voice to change, getting lower or higher. You might even get voice cracks, which is when the muscles of your larynx (voice box) tighten suddenly to create a high pitched sound. Voice cracks can be funny or embarrassing, but they’re normal and nothing to worry about.
Female signs of puberty
Here are some signs of puberty that are more specific to the female body:
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Another process of puberty is vaginal discharge, or clear/whitish fluid that is released from the vagina. Vaginal discharge can start happening 6 months to a year before your first period, and it’s normal! As vaginal discharge is released, you may also notice vaginal odor, which is completely normal. The important thing to realize is that your vagina is self cleaning! You do not need to clean the inside or try to make it smell good with scented products. This can actually mess up the pH levels of your vagina, so it’s best to just clean the external parts of your genitals with mild, unscented soap.
Getting your period! A period is a part of the menstrual cycle when blood and the lining of the uterus is released from the vagina. It can be scary to get your first period, but it is a normal part of puberty! There are many ways to manage your period: with pads that go on your underwear, to tampons that are inserted into your vagina, to reusable menstrual cups that catch the blood! Periods are usually monthly and last anywhere from 3-7 days, but it can take a while for your period to become regular. You might have very light days where you only have brownish spotting, or very heavy days with lots of blood flow! This variation is normal, but if it persists or becomes painful, talk to a doctor. Another part of the period is menstrual cramps, or pains in the lower abdomen during your period. These cramps can be mild or really painful, but you can usually manage them with a common painkiller. If the pain is extreme, consider talking to your doctor.
Wider hips! After pregnancy, a child usually passes through the vagina as it’s born -- that’s a tight squeeze! In order to accommodate this, the hips will usually get wider during puberty (and they get even wider during pregnancy!). Along with all this growth, the female body usually sees an increase in body fat during puberty -- which is necessary for functioning! It is important to continue to properly fuel your body during this growth, and not be too concerned about gaining some weight or seeing stretch marks or cellulite (small pockets of fat cells under the skin which look like small dimples) -- all of it is normal, beautiful, and a fascinating part of your body growing up. It’s also important to not compare your body to anyone else’s! Everyone undergoes different things during puberty, so just trust that your body knows YOU best!
Puberty typically starts for the female body from ages 8-14 years, although there are cases of both earlier and later development! Aside from growth, puberty also allows the female body to sexually mature.
An early sign of puberty for the female body is the development and growth of the breasts, which can be called breast budding. Breast buds grow underneath the nipple and can be itchy or sore -- that’s normal, and it will get better with time. It’s also normal for the breasts to grow at different rates, and for the areolas (the darker area surrounding the nipples) to grow larger. In addition, the labia may also get larger or change color during puberty.
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All breasts are different, and all vulva are different! There is no specific way that your body should look, so the way that yours looks is perfect!
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Male Signs of puberty
​Puberty for the male body usually happens from ages 9 to 16, though the changes may happen at different times. Aside from growth, puberty also allows the male body to sexually mature.
One of the earliest signs of puberty in the male body is the growth of the testicles and scrotum (the skin around the testicles). Also, early pubic hair may start to grow at the base of the penis. This growth is the body responding to hormones and getting ready to produce sperm.
Then the penis will start getting longer as the testicles also continue to grow larger. With the growth of the penis, you might start getting erections (when the penis becomes hard and erect due to increased blood flow). Erections can happen when thinking about sexual things, or for no reason at all! Sometimes erections can happen at night, during “wet dreams,” which is when the penis becomes erect and ejaculates while you are sleeping. Ejaculation is the release of semen from the penis, and semen is a fluid that contains sperm. Sperm starts being produced in the testes during puberty.
Some males get swelling around the breasts during puberty due to hormonal changes -- this is normal and typically the swelling will go away as puberty ends. If you are concerned about this, talk to your doctor.
As you grow in height and weight, your shoulders and chest may get broader and your hips may get wider, and you may start to grow larger muscles. It’s all part of the transition to a full grown body!
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