Puberty: What's happening to me?!

If you are between the ages of 10 and 17 then it is very likely that you are about to enter, or are already going through puberty.

Congratulations, you are now taller, hairier, smellier, have oiler skin, are more emotional and have the ability to bear children.

Don’t worry, it’s not all bad!

What even is it?

Puberty is the word used to describe all of the changes that happen to your body between the ages of about 10 to 17. Your body will change on the outside and on the inside. Puberty is a gradual thing and everyone goes through it

People with a penis

During puberty the testicles (testes, balls, nuts etc.…) will start to produce the male hormone testosterone. This hormone will cause a number of changes in your body. You will:

Grow taller
Develop muscles
Grow more hair under your arms, on your face, genitals, legs, arms, chest, back… pretty much everywhere actually...
Have a deeper voice
Notice changes in the size of your penis and testicles

People with a vagina

During puberty your body will change so that it is possible for you to have a baby later in life. These changes include:

Developing breasts
Getting hips
Growing hair under your arms and on your genitals
Menstruating or getting your period
Changes in the size and shape of your genitals.

Everyone

Some changes that happen during puberty will affect most people, regardless of what bits they have downstairs. These include:

Getting acne and pimples
Sweating more
Sexual feelings

Delightful isn't it?

With the development of sexy feelings comes a curiosity about sex. Sex is great but your body will often tell you that it is ready to have sex before your mind is ready. There is no rush!

Hormones

While you are going through puberty your body is producing loads of hormones which are responsible for all the changes happening. Hormones cause physical changes to your body, as well as emotional changes. Which is why you sometimes feel like the world is a terrible place; you hate your mum, and no one understands you. Hormones are also responsible for those sexy feelings we mentioned earlier.

Hormones are super important for growth but they can make you moody, emotional, and irrational. So for now, you can totally blame it on the hormones (and not your mum!).

Last but not least. Be nice to each other. Everyone is going through it. Leave each other be and don’t purposefully point out peoples differences or be mean. Everyone goes through puberty at their own pace!
Our bodies are weird, and everyone smells and looks different but it’s all normal.