Puberty
Were you 5 feet tall and now you’re 6 feet tall? Is your voice squeaky and embarrassing you in front of your crush? Wondering what the red spots are on your face, chest or back? Has your weight changed in the last year and you don’t know why?
This is called puberty. It can be an uncomfortable and awkward time for anyone.
But you’re not alone! Everyone goes through this and it’s important to remember that it’s different for everyone. Let’s talk about what’s actually happening with your body.
What is puberty?
Puberty is the process your body goes through when you change into an adult.
It’s the physical changes your body goes through to prepare you for sex and having babies (someday when you’re ready for sex and having babies, of course).
When will I go through puberty?
Most people start going through puberty when they are 8 to 14 years old.
The process is different for everyone. You might start earlier than your friends. Or you might start later. You may even start earlier but then not see other signs of puberty for a while. Don’t be worried!
It's all natural, and everyone goes through puberty at their own pace. Puberty doesn't happen overnight.
How do I know when I’m going through puberty?
You’ll know you are going through puberty when you start to notice your body changing. You may look different or feel different.
As you start puberty, you may notice some of these changes:
- Smell – You might start to notice that your body smells different or even unpleasant. You might start to sweat more or in places you’ve never sweat before.
- Hair – You may start to notice hair under your armpits or on your private parts (pubic hair). The hair on your legs and arms may grow thicker and get darker.
- Breasts – You may start to grow breasts (boobs) on your chest. You’ll get breast buds, which form under the nipple and can be itchy or hurt sometimes. (This can happen no matter what gender you are!) Your nipples and the area around it (areola) may also grow and get darker in color.
- Weight – You may notice changes to your weight. Your hips and thighs may get wider. This prepares your body for possible pregnancy and giving birth someday.
- Mood Changes/Hormones – Have you ever noticed someone in their feelings one minute, but then the next minute, they seem fine? Hormones can affect your mood and attitude. It’s alright to feel all the feels. You. Are. Normal.
- Acne – You may notice changes in your skin, like getting acne (zits or pimples) on your face, chest or back.
- Period – You may start your period (menstruation). Periods usually come once a month - but they vary for everyone. It could take some time to get on a regular schedule. And that schedule might be different from your friends and may not be regular. You can bleed anywhere from 2 to 7 days. Once you start your period, you can get pregnant by having sex if a penis goes in your vagina. You can learn more about that here.
- Smell – You might start to notice that your body smells different or even unpleasant. You might start to sweat more or in places you’ve never sweat before.
- Voice Changes – Your voice may get deeper and people may be able to see the bump in your throat (Adam’s apple) better. As your voice deepens, it might get squeaky at times. Might be annoying when you’re talking to your crush or in front of your class, but trust us, it’s totally normal.
- Growth – If you feel like your hands and feet are too big for the rest of your body, you’ve started to hit puberty. You may feel gangly and awkward for a while, but eventually, the rest of your body will catch up - it’s a normal part of life and everyone that’s gone before you has felt the same way!
- Mood Changes/Hormones – Have you ever noticed someone in their feelings one minute, but then the next minute they seem fine? Hormones can affect your mood and attitude. It’s alright to feel all the feels. You. Are. Normal.
- Hair – You’ll grow hair – everywhere! You’ll grow it in your armpits. The hair on your legs and arms may grow thicker and get darker, and you may grow hair on your chest and/or back. You may start to grow hair on your private parts. You might even be able to grow a mustache or beard on your face.
- Acne – You may get acne (zits or pimples) on your face and body.
- Changes to Private Parts – Your testicles (balls) and penis may get bigger. During puberty, your body starts making sperm (tiny cells with a head and tail that come out of your penis and mix with a female’s egg to create a baby). This means if you have sex where a penis goes into a vagina, pregnancy can happen. You can learn more here.
How do I take care of my body?
Learning to take care of your body is especially important as you go through puberty. It’s a skill that lasts throughout your life, and makes you feel good overall. Here are a few ways you can take care of your body as you mature into an adult.
1. Practice good hygiene. Hygiene is a fancy word for taking care of your body and keeping it clean and healthy. You can do this by:
- Showering/bathing regularly. Use soap and water to help clean all over your body.
- Washing your face. Use a mild cleanser and water to help keep acne in check.
- Brushing your teeth. Clean them at least twice a day, every day. (And don’t forget to floss.)
- Wearing deodorant. As you start to sweat more, you might smell more. If a trusted adult buys you deodorant, trust that it’s time to use it. Apply deodorant to your armpits every day.
2. Visit a doctor or health care provider. When it comes to your health, your doctor or provider knows best! Whether it’s your regular doctor, a health care provider at a nearby center or a health care provider at your school-based health center, it’s important to visit a health care professional regularly. And don’t worry - your provider may ask your parent/guardian to leave the room to talk to you about questions and topics that maybe you would rather not discuss in front of them. Everything you talk about with your provider stays between the two of you (unless there is a threat of harm to you or others). Your health care provider can:
- Do an exam to make sure everything is OK and answer your questions about puberty (or anything related to your body).
- Help you with cases of acne (zits or pimples) that are extra annoying.
- Talk to you about birth control and connect you with birth control options and options for protection during sex.
- Test for sexually transmitted infections (STIs, also called STDs or sexually transmitted diseases).
- And more! Your provider can support you in a variety of ways and with all kinds of questions and concerns regarding puberty and health.
3. Talk to a parent, grandparent or another adult you trust about how you’re feeling. This is called taking care of your mental health. You may feel like everyone is staring at your zits. Or people keep talking about how you look. Remember, everyone since the beginning of time has gone through puberty. We all can relate to at least some of what you’re feeling.
If you ever have thoughts about harming yourself or someone else, please talk to a trusted adult or call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 988. You can also reach the Crisis Text Line by texting “HOME” to 741741.
What's the difference between sex and gender?
It’s super common to get terms like sex or gender confused. And although they seem similar, they’re actually quite different.
- Sex: Sex refers to your body parts. You are assigned a “sex” (male or female) at birth, based on the organs (genitals) and chromosomes you’re born with. The sex is added to your birth certificate. Sometimes this is referred to as your biological sex or assigned sex.
- Gender: Gender refers to expectations society (a large group of people) may have about people based on their assigned sex. Society may expect a person to think, act or look a certain way based on the sex they were assigned at birth. For example:
- A culture may expect people who are assigned a “male” sex to always act tough, or strong.
- A culture may expect people who are assigned a “female” sex to be timid, or kind.
What’s the difference between gender and gender identity?
Gender is based on a societal expectation, but gender identity refers to how you feel and how you choose to express how you feel. You may express your gender identity through the clothes you wear, the way you style your hair or the way you act.
Your gender identity- or the way you feel- might align with your assigned sex. Or it might not. Some people do not feel like they identify as male or female. Some people may even be born with both male and female chromosomes or genitals.
There are a lot of resources out there that talk about differences between sex, gender and gender identity. It’s important to understand these terms and definitions - not only for your own health, but to better understand your friends and peers, too.