Page 48 - (DK) Help Your Kids with Growing Up: A No-Nonsense Guide to Puberty and Adolescence

46 MALE PUBERT Y

What is puberty? SEE ALSO 48–49 ›

Male hormones
Changing body 50–51 ›
During puberty, males reach physical maturity and become capable Testicles 52–53 ›
of sexual reproduction. With emotional and physical changes all The penis 54–55 ›
happening at once, puberty can be a challenging time for teens.

GOOD T O KNO W
Reaching maturity Body confidence

For males and females, puberty starts when the brain produces gonadotropin- It’s normal to feel self-conscious or
releasing hormone (GnRH). This hormone kickstarts a number of emotional and embarrassed about your body during
physical changes that happen in stages, over several years. Everyone experiences puberty. Try not to worry – it’s a natural
puberty differently, but there are key stages common to all. The transformation process that everyone goes through,
can be disorientating for teens, but talking it over with a trusted adult can help – and can be fun.
after all, they once went through puberty, too.

What to expect
On average, males start puberty a
year later than females, normally
between the ages of 9 and 14. Body hair
During puberty, with so many Thicker, darker, and
changes happening, it’s not unusual coarser hair starts Sweat and smells
for tweens and teens to feel as if growing in the pubic A teen’s body starts to
region and on the legs
their body and emotions are out of and chest. By the end produce more sweat,
control. In order for teens to feel of puberty this hair which can cause body
better prepared for puberty, it helps becomes curly. odour and smelly feet.
to learn about how the body works
and what to expect.

Involuntary erections
Erections – a stiffening
of the penis – start
Bigger genitals
Over the course of
to occur. They can happen
More testosterone the day, or when a person puberty, the penis
during sleep, throughout
Increased testosterone makes sees someone they fancy. lengthens, and the
males stronger, but can influence
testicles grow larger.
mood and disturb sleep patterns.

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