Signs of Puberty
Acne:
Areas of the skin that become clogged and result in redness,
inflammation and pimples. Acne is frequently seen on the face, back
and/or neck.
Breast Development:
Breasts may start to develop, this is common
for girls. Breast development may occur for boys, and usually goes
away by the end of puberty.
Erection:
When the spongy part of the penis fills with blood, the penis
gets bigger, longer and harder. This is called an erection. When a penis
is erect, it might stay straight or curve slightly to one side or the other.
Menstruation:
The process in which the blood-rich lining of the uterus
begins to loosen and come out through the vagina. This happens roughly
once a month, but the schedule can vary widely. Most girls start to
menstruate between the ages of nine and 16. Menstruation is sometimes
called, “having a period.”
Mood Swings:
During puberty, hormone levels are going up and down
all the time. These fluctuating hormones – along with all the other big
changes that happen – can make moods change very quickly. A person
might feel happy and silly one minute, then sad or annoyed the next.
They also might cry or feel like crying more often. Mood swings are
very normal during puberty.
Wet Dreams:
Wet dreams are also called nocturnal emissions. A boy
or man has erections at night that may end in ejaculation while he is
sleeping. He might wake up right away or the next morning to find
semen in his underwear or on the sheets. Wet dreams often happen
during puberty but they can occur all throughout life.
Puberty Toolkit
Here is a list of tools that may be helpful throughout puberty. It is good
to discuss these options with the adults in your life.
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Bra
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Deodorant
• When you exercise or get hot, your body
can begin to smell. Many people decide to use deodorant
to help with body odor.
• Some deodorants and antiperspirants contain chemicals that might
be harmful to the body. If you or your family is concerned about them,
you may choose to use a deodorant with natural ingredients.
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Jock Strap/Cup
• These are forms of protective gear designed to prevent injury to
the penis and testicles during contact sports.
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Pads
• Pads stick to your underwear and absorb the fluid from the
vagina during menstruation. These should be changed every three
to four hours.
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Razor
• Razors are sharp instruments used to remove hair from the body.
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Tampons
• Tampons fit inside the vagina to absorb the fluid released during
menstruation. The walls of the vagina hold the tampon in place, and
it cannot get lost inside you. Each tampon has a string that hangs out
of the vagina. Slowly pulling the string removes the tampon easily.
A tampon should be changed every three to four hours.
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Menstrual Cup
• A flexible cup worn inside the vagina to collect the fluid released
during menstruation (a menstral cup called Lunette can
be purchased at Planned Parenthood).
• Unlike a pad or tampon, a menstrual
cup can be washed and reused.
If these images don’t
look like you, it doesn’t mean that
you are not normal. You ARE normal!
The images are only a guide. Your
body will change and grow at
its own unique pace.
Talk with your parents/guardians about
which products are right for you.
What is exciting
about growing up?
When did you start
to feel grown up?
