Lyka Mae B.
Hista Dev Psych
AB PSYCH-2 February 20,2019
Topic: Puberty
Why is puberty so important?
As children approach their early teens, puberty begins. These are the changes
that will lead to adulthood, and the ability to have children. The developments
affect the body in terms of size, shape, and composition, as well as
internal body systems and structure. Psychological and social changes
also take place. Boys and girls grow rapidly in the first half of puberty,
and they stop growing when puberty is completed.
What makes adolescence stand out is that it is a period in our lives that links what
we have experienced in our childhood to developing and shaping the individuals
we will become during adulthood as we experience puberty.
What happens to a boy during puberty?
Testosterone produces the general distinguishing characteristics of the masculine body, causing
changes to the sexual organs themselves as well as being responsible for secondary sexual
characteristics:
Changes to the penis, scrotum and testes
These three organs enlarge by about 8 times by the age of 20 years. The internal ducts and
glands of the reproductive system also increase in size during puberty. Males
experience erections more frequently, and “wet dreams“, involuntary emissions of semen during
sleep often accompanied by erotic dreams, often occur.
Changes in hair distribution
Hair grows around the pubic, underarm and facial areas. Hair around the pubic area generally
extends upwards to the abdomen, sometimes reaching the belly button. Hair on the chest also
develops, and less often on other regions of the body such as the back. Hair already present on
most other portions of the body, such as the legs, becomes more prolific.
Changes to the voice
The larynx enlarges during puberty, initially resulting in a cracking voice, but gradually resolving
into a deeper typically adult masculine voice.
Changes to the skin
The skin becomes thicker over the entire body. Sebaceous glands in the skin secrete increased
amounts of sebum, especially on the face, which can lead to the development of acne. Acne is
one of the most common features of male adolescence as the body is first exposed to increased
testosterone. The skin normally adapts to these high testosterone levels over the years, gradually
overcoming the acne.
Changes to muscle development and growth
Muscle mass increases. Males increase their muscle mass about 50% more than females.
Increased protein is also found in non-muscular parts of the body.
Changes to the bone
The bones grow significantly thicker when circulating testosterone increases. The overall quantity
of bone is increased, causing more calcium to be retained. Testosterone also acts on the pelvis,
making it narrower and longer, causing a funnel-like shape, as opposed to the broad oval-like
shape of the female pelvis, which is better suited to childbearing.
Changes to the blood
Testosterone stimulates the production of red blood cells, so that the quantity and proportion of
red blood cells in males is higher than females.
Changes to the brain
Testosterone awakens the libido, or sex drive. In addition, many psychological changes during
puberty occur that change the way a person’s mind works.
How do you know if you are hitting puberty?
Puberty starts around 9 or 10 for many girls and about 1–2 years later for boys.
During this time, hormones affect the body’s development for the first time since the
person was in the womb.
Boys: facial hair, body hair, body odor, broadening shoulders, increased musculature
and muscle density, pubic hair.
Girls: breast development, hip flare, genital hair, and menses.
Both: increased libido (aka “sexual desire”), zits, pimples, spots, whatever you want
to call them—these are associated with hormonal changes, not diet.
Additionally, both boys and girls will grow out of the gawky, awkward tween-body, as
their torso catches up to their limb growth. Hormones run throughout the body,
affecting not only physical growth changes, but magnifying emotional changes, both
for better and for worse.
Because these pubescents are leaving (physical) childhood behind, puberty is often
associated with an intense desire for stability in the face of an unstable present.
Young people in the throes of puberty will promise things “forever” and “for always,”
and other such nonsensical rot, in an effort to build comfort out of unnerving
internal chaos.
What are the first signs of puberty?
sually after a girl's 8th birthday or after a boy turns 9 or 10, puberty begins when an area of the brain
called the hypothalamus starts to release gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). When GnRH
travels to the pituitary gland (a small gland under the brain that produces hormones that control
other glands throughout the body), it releases two more puberty hormones — luteinizing hormone
(LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH).
What happens next depends on gender:
Boys: Hormones travel through the bloodstream to the testes (testicles) and give the
signal to begin production of sperm and the hormone testosterone.
Girls: Hormones go to the ovaries (the two oval-shaped organs that lie to the right and
left of the uterus) and trigger the maturation and release of eggs and the production of
the hormone estrogen, which matures a female's body and prepares her for pregnancy.
At about the same time, the adrenal glands of both boys and girls begin to produce a group of
hormones called adrenal androgens. These hormones stimulate the growth of pubic and underarm
hair in both sexes.
How do girls cope with puberty?
If you're just starting puberty, here's how to get ready for all those changes that are going to happen to
your body.
Talk to an adult. Tell a trusted adult -- such as your mom, an aunt, or your school nurse -- aboutwhat's
bothering you. Your friends -- not so much. They might mean well, but you really want someone who
knows more and has been there, done that.
Become a period expert. Ask your mom to show you how to use a tampon and/or pad. Practice a few
times, so you'll know what to expect. Always keep a few pads or tampons at home and in your locker at
school, just in case your period surprises you.
Go bra shopping. As your breasts grow, you'll need some support, especially if you play sports. Shop for
your first bra with your mom or another woman. Make sure it's the right size -- a woman who works in
a store's bra department can help with that.
Talk to your doctor. You don't have to see a gynecologist yet, but you should visit a doctor you can talk
to about your changing body. If you've been seeing a male doctor and you'd feel more comfortable
talking about periods and other girl stuff with a woman, ask your parents if you can switch doctors.
Be choosy about your friends. It can be tempting to hang out with an older crowd, but that's not always
best for you. Stick with people your own age. And if an older guy, or a man, pays a lot of attention to
you, wants to takes you places where adults go, or buys you expensive things, you need to tell an adult
so that you stay safe, even if you think he's totally harmless. "You do need to have some suspicions,"
Murray says.
Think positive. Looking different than your friends can be hard on your self-esteem. Instead of seeing
your changing body as a bad thing, embrace your new curves. When you look in the mirror, learn to love
the new you. "Celebrate who you are and be positive and confidant in your own image," Tirone says.
"Do things that make you feel good about yourself in general, and your body in particular," Murray says.
Some ideas: Play a sport. Dance. Join the chorus if you can sing. You get the idea: Do things that are fun,
healthy, and help you feel good.
How can you tell if a girl is going through puberty?
Starting at around age 9, girls begin to gain about 17% to 18% of their adult height. If someone has
commented that you are "all hands and feet," it's true! Your limbs grow first, then your trunk. Most girls
grow fastest about six months before they start their first period (menarche).
You'll probably gain weight in puberty -- most girls do. You may notice more body fat along the upper
arms, thighs, and upper back. Your hips will grow rounder and wider; your waist will become narrower.
Breast development is an early sign of puberty in girls. This can happen before age 9 in some girls, but
later in others.
While for most girls, breast development is the first sign of puberty, others might first notice pubic hair.
An increase in hair on your arms and legs, in your armpits, and around your pubic area happens to girls
early in puberty.
Soon after they develop breasts, most girls have their first menstrual period. This usually happens
between ages 12 and 13, but menstruation can start earlier or later. During a menstrual period, there
are two to three days of heavier bleeding with two to four days of lighter flow. Because of the surges in
hormones during puberty, many girls feel moodiness at times, especially right before their periods. This
is called premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
At what age do girls start puberty?
Many girls start puberty at about age 11 but some can start even sooner, such as age 8 or 9. But it
doesn't happen all at once.
What age do girls hormonal?
So that's what's really happening during puberty — it's all these new chemicals moving
around inside your body, turning you from a teen into an adult with adult levels of hormones.
Puberty usually starts some time between age 7 and 13 in girls and 9 and 15 in guys. When
your body reaches a certain age, your brain releases a special hormone that starts the changes
of puberty. It's called gonadotropin-releasing hormone, or GnRH for short. When GnRH reaches
the pituitary gland (a pea-shaped gland that sits just under the brain), this gland releases into the
bloodstream two more puberty hormones: luteinizing hormone (LH for short) and follicle-
stimulating hormone (FSH for short). Guys and girls have both of these hormones in their bodies.
And depending on whether you're a guy or a girl, these hormones go to work on different parts of
the body.
How do you cope with puberty?
What you can do
Try to adopt a positive view. Really, puberty is a physical and emotional makeover that you need
Avoid comparisons, and resist the urge to focus on your body image.
Get sufficient exercise and rest. Enough sleep will help you be less irritable, stressed, and depressed
while you’re awake.
Challenge your ‘inner critic.’ Is everyone really watching you that closely? Even if people make remarks
about your growth, put things in perspective.
Learn how to control your sexual urges so that you do not act on them.
Talk to one of your parents or a trusted adult. True, it might be awkward at first. But the help you can
get will make your effort worthwhile.
The bottom line: Puberty presents its challenges. It also affords you a wonderful opportunity to grow—
not just physically but also mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
Questions Boys Ask About Puberty
Is it Normal to Gain Weight during Puberty?
For some teens, weight gain will be a normal part of development.
Pre-puberty weight gain certainly happens, but total weight gain across the span of the teenage growth
spurt (puberty) is significant.
The awkward, pudgy appearance that precedes an epic leap in height is a completely normal part of
puberty.
Adolescent girls can gain fifteen pounds or so during the growing years of puberty, while boys gain
upward of thirty pounds during this time.
For other teens though, rapid weight gain—wherever it decides to settle on the body—is a sign that
extra calories, eating and activity is getting off track.
Does Body Hair Mean Having More Testosterone?
Increased testosterone levels can lead to excessive hair growth in a typically-male pattern, also known
as hirsutism. "It manifests as dark, coarse hair growth on the face, chin, chest, abdomen and back,"
says Kimbre V. Zahn, MD over email. "These areas in women typically have little or no hair, but are
stimulated by increased circulating androgens."
Does Penis Size Matter?
First, the facts. According to a study reported in the journal Psychology of Men and Masculinity, the
erect penis size of most men — 68 percent — is between 4.6 and 6 inches long. About 16 percent of
men have an erect penis size longer than 6.1 inches, and of those only 2.5 percent are over 6.9 inches.
About 16 percent of men have an erect penis size that’s shorter than 4.5 inches, with only 2.5 percent of
those under 3.7 inches.
In the same study of more than 52,000 participants — men and women — 45 percent of men reported
that they were unsatisfied with their penis size and wanted to be larger. Compare that figure to the 16
percent who actually are shorter than average. And the perception didn’t change with age, either —
about the same number of older men were unhappy with their penis size as were younger guys.
These concerns of inadequacy have consequences. Men who believed their penis size was too small
were less likely to undress in front of their partner, more likely to hide their penis during sex, and more
likely to judge themselves unattractive. On the other hand, men who thought they had a large penis
were likely to be more self-confident and believe themselves to be attractive. Interestingly, 84 percent
of the women surveyed reported that they were satisfied with their partner's penis size. So it's not her
problem, guys — it's yours.
That's not the end of the story, though. Penis size does matter to women, but it turns out that when
women talk about penis size, it’s usually about the width, not the length.
"A very long, skinny penis is not as pleasurable as a shorter, fatter one for most women," said Patti
Britton, PhD, a sex coach and clinical sexologist in Los Angeles, Calif. "It's really the thickness of a male's
penis that is the element allows her to feel what we in sexology called containment — the feeling of
fullness that's produced with an object or a penis inside the vaginal wall." Penis size is not the final
determining factor in a man’s ability to satisfy a woman or enjoy sex.
Why Do Boys Get Erections for No Reason?
An erection is a hardening of the penis that occurs when sponge-like tissue inside the penis fills up
with blood. Usually, an erection causes the penis to enlarge and stand away from the body.
Although many erections are caused by sexual arousal, such as watching a sexy television show or
fantasizing, many erections seem to happen for no particular reason.
So if you've had an erection in an odd or embarrassing situation — like right in the middle of a really
boring history lesson — there's no reason to worry that something is wrong with you. Your body is
just acting naturally for a guy your age.
Men Stop Having Erections When They Get Older?
Most older men suffer not ED but erection dissatisfaction. Starting around age 50 (often earlier among
smokers and/or diabetics), erections change. In some men, the process is gradual, in others, it happens
more quickly. Either way, older men lose the ability to raise erections solely from sexual fantasies. Direct
fondling of the penis becomes necessary. When erections appear, they rise more slowly and do not
become as firm as they were during men’s thirties and forties. And minor distractions may cause
wilting—the doorbell or an ambulance siren. These changes alarm many men, who jump to the
conclusion that they must have ED. If you can still raise erection durings masturbation, you don’t. What
you have is erection dissatisfaction.
Will Wet Dreams Ever Stop?
Wet dreams (when a guy ejaculates while he’s asleep) usually happen when a guy is dreaming about
sexual stuff. Sometimes guys wake up from wet dreams; sometimes they sleep through them. A guy
might not remember the dream he was having.
Wet dreams begin during puberty when the body starts making more testosterone, the major male
hormone. Most guys have wet dreams at some point during puberty and even sometimes as adults.
However, they usually happen less or stop altogether as guys get older and reach the end of puberty.
Some guys may feel embarrassed or guilty about having wet dreams, but they’re a normal part of
growing up.
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