What's Puberty?

Puberty (say: PYOO-ber-tee) is the name for the time when your body begins to
develop and change as you move from kid to adult. We're talking about stuff like girls
developing breasts and boys starting to look more like men.

It helps to know about the changes that puberty causes before they happen. That
way, you know what to expect. It's also important to remember that everybody goes
through these changes. No two people are exactly alike, but one thing everyone has
in common is that we all go through puberty.

When Does Puberty Start?

Usually, puberty starts between ages 8 and 13 in girls and ages 9 and 15 in boys.
This wide range in ages may help explain why some of your friends still look like
young kids while others look more like adults.

What Changes Does Puberty Bring?

When your body is ready to begin puberty, your pituitary (say: pih-TOO-uh-ter-ee)
gland, a pea-shaped gland located at the bottom of your brain, releases
special hormones. Depending on whether you're a boy or a girl, these hormones go
to work on different parts of the body.

For boys, the hormones travel through the blood and tell the testes (say: TES-teez),
the two egg-shaped glands in the scrotum (the sac that hangs under the penis), to
begin making testosterone (say: tess-TAHS-tuh-rone) and sperm. Testosterone is
the hormone that causes most of the changes in a boy's body during puberty, and
men need sperm to be able to reproduce (be the father of a baby).

In girls, these hormones target the two ovaries (say: OH-vuh-reez), which contain
eggs that have been in the girl's body since she was born. The hormones cause the
ovaries to start making another hormone, called estrogen. Together, these hormones
prepare a girl's body to start her periods and be able to become pregnant someday.

Boys and girls both begin to grow hair under their arms and their pubic areas (on and
around the genitals). It starts out looking light and thin. Then, as kids go through
puberty, it becomes longer, thicker, heavier, curlier, and darker. Eventually, boys
also start to grow hair on their faces.

What's a Growth Spurt?

A spurt is a short burst of activity or something that happens in a hurry. And a growth
spurt is just that: Your body is growing and it's happening really fast!

When you go through puberty, it might seem like your sleeves are always getting
shorter and your pants are creeping up your legs. That's because you're having a
growth spurt that lasts for about 2 to 3 years. When that growth spurt is at its peak,
some kids grow 4 or more inches (10 or more centimeters) in a year! At the end of
your growth spurt, you'll have reached your adult height — or just about.

With all this quick growth, it can seem like one part of your body — your feet, for
instance — are growing faster than everything else. This can make you feel clumsy
or awkward. This is normal too! The rest of your body will eventually fill out and
shape up, and you'll feel less klutzy.

With all this growing and developing going on, some kids may be uncomfortable with
how their bodies are changing, but it's unhealthy to diet to try to stop any normal
weight gain. If you have any questions about puberty or are worried about your
height or weight, talk to your parent or doctor.

How Does Body Shape Change During Puberty?

Your body also fills out and changes shape during puberty. A boy's shoulders will
grow wider and his body will become more muscular. He may notice a bit of breast
growth on his chest. Don't worry, this is normal — and it goes away for most boys by
the end of puberty.

In addition, boys' voices crack and eventually become deeper, their penises grow
longer and wider, and their testes get bigger. These changes mean that their bodies
are developing as they should during puberty.

Girls' bodies usually become curvier. Their hips get wider and their breasts develop,
starting with just a little swelling under the nipples. Sometimes one breast grows
more quickly than the other, but most of the time they even out. Girls may start
wearing bras around this time, especially if they are involved in sports or exercise
classes.

Girls might wonder: When will I get my first period? This usually happens about 2
years after her breasts start to develop. The menstrual (say: MEN-strul) period, or
monthly cycle, is when blood is leaves the body through the vagina. That may sound
alarming, but it's normal and it signals that a girl is growing up and her body is
preparing so that she can have a baby someday.

Skin Changes During Puberty

Another thing that may come with puberty is acne (say: AK-nee) — or pimples —
caused by all those hormones at work in the body.

To help control pimples, wash your face twice a day with warm water and a mild
soap or cleanser. Don't squeeze, pick, or pop your pimples. Your doctor can also
offer suggestions for clearing up acne. The good news is that acne usually gets a lot
better as you get older.

Putting the P.U. in Puberty

As you enter puberty, the puberty hormones stimulate the glands in your skin,
including the sweat glands under your arms. When sweat and bacteria on your skin
get together, it can smell pretty bad.

So what can you do to feel less stinky? Well, keeping clean can stop you from
smelling. You might want to take a shower every day, either in the morning before
school or at night before bed. Showering after you've been playing sports or
exercising is also a good idea.

Another way to cut down on body odor is to use deodorant. If you use a deodorant
with antiperspirant, it will cut down on sweat too.

There's More?

Boys and girls will also notice other body changes as they enter puberty. Girls
sometimes might see and feel white or clear stuff coming from the vagina. This
doesn't mean anything is wrong — it's called vaginal discharge and is just another
sign hormones are changing your body.

Boys will begin to get erections (this is when the penis fills with blood and becomes
hard). Sometimes erections happen when boys think about sexual things or they can
happen for no reason at all. Boys also may have something called nocturnal
emissions (or wet dreams). This is when the penis becomes erect when a boy is
sleeping and he ejaculates. When a boy ejaculates, semen — the fluid that contains
sperm — comes out of the penis. That's why they're called wet dreams — they
happen when you're sleeping and your underwear or the bed might be a little wet
when you wake up. Wet dreams happen less often as boys move through puberty
and they eventually stop.

Emotional Changes During Puberty

Just as those hormones change the way your body looks on the outside, they also
create changes on the inside. During puberty, you might feel confused or have
strong emotions that you've never had before. You might feel overly sensitive or
become upset easily.

Some kids lose their tempers more often and get angry with their friends or families.
You also may feel anxious about how your changing body looks.

Sometimes it can be hard to deal with all these new emotions. It's important to know
that while your body is adjusting to the new hormones, so is your mind. Try to
remember that people usually aren't trying to hurt your feelings or upset you on
purpose. It might not be your family or friends — it might be your new "puberty brain"
trying to adjust.
You might also have sexual feelings that you've never felt before. And you will
probably have lots of questions about these new, confusing feelings about sex.

It's easy to feel embarrassed or nervous when talking about sex. It's important to get
your questions answered, but you need to be sure you have all the right information.
Some kids can talk to their parents about sex and get all their questions answered.
But if you feel funny talking to your parents about sex, there are other people you
can talk to, like your doctor, a school nurse, a teacher, a school counselor, or
another trusted adult you feel comfortable talking with.

What if I'm Developing Differently?

People are all a little different from each other, so it makes sense that they don't
all develop in the same way. During puberty, everyone changes at their own pace.

A few kids who are developing very early or who are very late in starting might have
a problem that needs to be checked or treated. If you're worried, talk with your
parents and schedule a visit with your doctor. Your doctor knows all about puberty
and can see if you're developing normally.

Eventually, most differences between you and your friends will even out. Until then,
hang in there. Puberty can be quite a wild ride!