So, your body is changing and you're not sure what the heck is happening, but things have been weird lately. Suddenly, your feet seem huge, you feel clumsy (like you can’t do anything with out everyone staring at you), your penis seems to have gotten bigger, and you think you might have a major crush on someone.
Well…. Welcome to Puberty!
For boys, puberty can start anywhere between the ages of 9 and 12. Some boys will start sooner and some later – don't worry if your friends seem to be ahead of or behind you. Everyone goes through this at a different pace. Don’t worry either if it seems like the girls are way ahead of you, girls usually start puberty a little sooner than boys.
The Beginning
The first thing you might notice is that your feet may have grown a lot in the last few months (sometimes as much as 2 sizes), and you might have grown what seems like 10 inches in the last few months. Next will come some pubic hair and possibly some under your arms and on your face, and you might also notice the hair on your legs becoming darker. Before you start shaving anywhere, talk to your parent(s) or a trusted adult to find out how to do it right; you don’t want to hurt yourself the first time you shave your face.
“Wet Dreams” (Nocturnal Emissions):
If you wake up one morning and notice your sheets are wet, do not panic. You probably had what is called a nocturnal emission or “wet dream”. These usually happen during sleep and are perfectly normal. Click here for some good information about what is really going on in your body and mind when this happens.
Why don’t I look like those male models and tv stars?
During puberty, your body is growing. You will begin to be able to build up muscle, your chest becomes a little broader, and your hands get bigger. Try not to spend too much time comparing yourself to the models and people you see on TV. In the magazines, the models are airbrushed to make a more muscled look, have perfect skin, and perfect hair. That isn’t the real world: in the real world, people have bad hair days, pimples, and very few people have that much muscle (unless they work out for a living). Models look just like everyone else when they are walking around on the street: they have pimples, dark circles, fat around the middle, and sometimes even they do not like the way they look. You are amazing!!! Remember that it takes time to get used to this new body. For more information on how to feel better about your body and yourself, click here.
Click here for more information about puberty.
