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Puberty for boys
Do you have hair growing in odd places? Clothes and shoes that suddenly don't fit? A voice with a mind of its own? Pimples and body odour? It's okay, you're normal. It's called puberty.
Your body's been working on this for a while now, making the male hormone testosterone. It's important because no testosterone means no puberty, which means no big muscles and no deep voice. Here's some information to help you understand the changes you will go through and how to deal with them.
For more information, see our portal for young people.
Body changes
Here's a list of how you can expect your body to change, in roughly this order, starting at around 11 to 13 years:
- 'Wet' and sexual dreams, where ejaculate (fluid) is released from your penis in your sleep.
- Hair grows in your pubic area.
- Your penis and testicles get bigger.
- Erections (a stiff penis) can happen without warning, especially if you're nervous or excited.
- Hormones make your skin oilier, causing pimples. Sweat glands are more active, causing body odour.
- Hair grows under your arms, then on your face, upper lip, legs and abdomen. Chin hair grows last, after your genitals are fully grown.
- Your larynx ('Adam's apple') grows and your voice deepens, usually in spurts.
- You will get about 7-13 cm taller and about 4.5-9 kg heavier every year for about four years.
- You might get some breast growth.
Things to remember
- Masturbation is normal. It won't make you blind or make hair grow on your palms, but it might make you have fewer wet dreams.
- You don't need to be embarrassed by erections. Other people usually don't notice and they go away within minutes. It helps to sit down and think of something else.
- You will need to learn to shave. You might also need to shower more often and start using deodorant to control body odour.
- It takes a while to learn to handle your 'new' voice and it might go up and down for a month or two until your vocal chords fully develop.
- All this growing makes you more hungry. Make sure you eat healthy food rather than junk food.
- Breast growth is just a reaction to hormones. It will go away by the end of puberty.
Feelings and moods
How you feel changes during puberty too. You might not always understand your moods. Some days can be a struggle between wanting to be a child and wanting to be a grown up. Puberty is about working out who you are. It's about becoming a separate person from your parents. You might experience some or all of these things:
- having mood swings
- feeling full of energy one moment and very tired the next
- feeling self-conscious and sensitive about how you look
- feeling like everyone is looking at you
- being easily embarrassed
- wanting privacy in the bathroom or your bedroom
- not wanting your parents and others to see you naked
- not wanting to do what your parents or teachers ask
- having sexual feelings towards other people
- intense peer pressure and bullying (this often starts around puberty)
- impulsive and risky behaviour
Things to remember
- Mood swings are a normal part of puberty for boys and girls.
- It's important to get enough sleep and exercise.
- With all the changes happening to your body, it's normal to be more aware of how you look. Other people usually won't notice.
- Wanting privacy and independence is a normal part of becoming more aware of yourself as a sexual person and less dependent on your parents or carers.
- Your parents or carers worry about your emotional and physical safety. It might feel like control to you, but they know what can happen because they've been there too. It can help to talk about how you're feeling. This shows maturity. Adults need to know you can handle new situations.
- It's very common to be attracted to girls and boys at this time. Same-sex attraction is also normal. It takes time to work out who you're really attracted to. If you're worried about feeling attracted to other boys, talk to an adult you trust.
- Everyone is going through their own issues, but that doesn't mean they should take it out on you. Tell an adult you trust if you're being pressured or bullied in any way.
- Trying new things is part of becoming independent, but taking drugs or drinking alcohol can be dangerous. Use common sense and be willing to say 'no' and mean it.
Taking control
Yes, hormones are to blame for most of what's happening to you right now, but don't let this be an excuse for acting badly. You can still control how you behave and what you say. You can think for yourself. It's easy to think no one could understand how you feel, but every older person you know has been through the same things. Ask an adult you trust for help and advice if you're doing or experiencing things like:
- feeling very worried, anxious or depressed
- having frightening or threatening thoughts
- thinking about killing yourself
- taking drugs or drinking alcohol
- being bullied, harassed or teased
- being sexually or physically abused
- facing violence or other problems at home.
Help if you need it
There is help out there for every problem. If it all feels too much, talk to an adult you trust. If you need more help, try these helplines and websites:
Kids' Helpline on T/ 1800 551 800
FPV's Action Centre on T/ 03 9660 4700 or T/ 1800 013 952 (freecall)