A lot of changes happen as you grow up, especially as you reach puberty (say: PYOO-bur-tee). This is the time when your body begins to develop and change.
During puberty, there isn’t just one event or sign that you’re growing up. There are lots of them, including your body growing bigger, your voice changing, and hair sprouting everywhere.
Most boys begin puberty between the ages of 9 and 14. But puberty starts when the body is ready. Everyone grows at their own pace.
Here are some common questions about boys and puberty.
What’s Up With Body Hair?
Body hair really gets going during puberty. Some boys will start to notice hair growing on their face around the chin, on the cheeks, and above the lip. Also, hair grows on the chest, the armpits, and even down there in the pubic region.
You’re growing hair in new places because hormones are telling your body that it is ready to change. Some of the hormones that trigger this new hair growth come from your adrenal glands. Other hormones come from your pituitary (say: puh-TOO-uh-ter-ee) gland (a pea-shaped gland located at the bottom of your brain).
Pituitary hormones travel through your bloodstream. They make the testicles (balls) grow bigger and start to release another hormone called testosterone that also helps make your body start sprouting hair in your pubic area, under your arms, and on your face.
Boys don’t really need to do anything about this new hair that’s growing. Later, when you’re a teen, and the hair gets thick enough on your face, you may want to talk with your parents about shaving.
Do I Smell?
You probably know what sweat is and that it’s also called perspiration (say: pur-spuh-RAY-shun)? How does it happen? Sweat comes out of your skin through tiny holes called pores when your body gets hot.
During puberty, your hormones are working all the time. This explains why you sweat a lot. Sweat is made almost completely of water with tiny amounts of other chemicals. Sweat by itself is not really smelly. But when it comes in contact with the bacteria on skin (which everyone has) it becomes smelly.
How can you keep yourself from being all sweaty and smelly? First, shower or bathe regularly, especially after playing sports or sweating a lot, like on a hot day. You can also use deodorant under your arms.
Deodorant comes in many scents or you can use one that’s unscented.
You can decide to wear a deodorant (which helps stops the smell) or a deodorant/antiperspirant (which helps stops the smell and the sweat). If you find these products don’t work for you, talk with your doctor.
What About Erections?
An erection happens when the penis fills up with blood and hardens. The penis will become bigger and stand out from the body. Boys may start to notice erections more often when they reach puberty. They are normal.
An erection can happen at any time. You can get many in one day or none at all. It depends on your age, sexual maturity, level of activity, and even the amount of sleep you get.
An erection can happen even when you’re sleeping. Sometimes you might wake up and find you had a “wet dream.” A wet dream is when semen (the fluid containing sperm) comes out of the penis during sleep. Semen is released through the urethra — the same tube that urine (pee) comes out of. This is called ejaculation.
Wet dreams happen when a boy’s body starts making more testosterone. It’s a sign the body is preparing for the future when a man might decide to be a father. Semen contains sperm, which can fertilize a woman’s egg and begin the process that ends with a baby being born.
You can’t help having wet dreams, and they are nothing to be embarrassed about. Almost all boys have them at some time during puberty.
If you ever have pain or a problem with your penis or testicles, it is important that someone take you to the doctor. It’s best to get problems like this checked out.
At what age does ejaculation (cumming) start?
Ejaculation is when sperm comes out of the penis, and this usually starts when you go through puberty. Puberty is when your body begins to change, and it happens at different times for everyone, usually between 10 and 12 years old. Your first ejaculation might happen during a “wet dream” (when you’re asleep) or when you touch yourself. It might take a few months or even a year after puberty starts. You can still enjoy touching yourself before this happens, even if nothing comes out
How often should a man ejaculate?
There’s no specific number for how often you should ejaculate. As long as you’re not hurting yourself or causing any redness or soreness, you’re fine. 😊
Tanner Stages
A tool called the Tanner stages outlines the stages of puberty for boys and when they’re likely to occur. There are separate Tanner stages for penis/testicles and pubic hair. For parents, the Tanner stages can serve as an excellent guide to the changes you can expect to see in your son. There are five stages of puberty for boys.
Stage 1 is prepubertal. In this stage, boys haven’t experienced any visible changes.
In Stage 2, physical changes begin. Between the ages of 9 and 14, boys typically begin to experience:
- Genital development (growth of their testicles and scrotum).
- Growth of sparse hair around their penis and under their arms.
- An increase in height (typically about 2 to 2½ inches per year), which could bring growing pains.
In Stage 3, physical changes speed up. Between the ages of 10 and 16, boys experience:
- Continued growth of their penis and testicles, as well as possible “wet dreams.” Wet dreams are ejaculation at night while they sleep.
- Darkening, coarsening pubic hair in the shape of a triangle in their genital area.
- Continued increase in height (about 2¾ to just over 3 inches per year).
- More sweating, which can lead to body odor.
- Vocal changes (and cracking in the process).
- Increased muscle mass.
Some breast development, or gynecomastia, occurs in about 50% of all teenage boys, but it typically resolves by the end of puberty. It’s most common between the ages of 11 and 15. If this becomes an issue physically or socially, you should talk with your child’s healthcare provider.
In Stage 4, puberty hits full stride. Between the ages of 11 and 16 years, boys experience:
- Growth in penis size and darkening of the skin on their scrotum and testicles. Red ridges on their testicles called rugae will begin to develop.
- Body hair growth that reaches adult levels. Pubic hair remains in a coarse triangle.
- A peak growth spurt that averages nearly 4 inches per year.
- Development of acne.
- Continued cracking of the voice.
Stage 5 is the final phase. Puberty ends in this stage. Boys finish their growth and physical development. Many may not develop facial hair until this step in the process. Pubic hair may extend out to their thighs, and some boys may have a line of hair up to their belly button. Most boys finish growing by age 17, but some may continue growing through their early 20s.
