Puberty 101

[LorienLlewellyn]

Time to Change

OK, so it's a funny word — but what is puberty, anyway?

Puberty (say: pyoo-ber-tee) is the name for the time when your body begins to develop and change as you move from kid to adult. We're talking about stuff like girls developing breasts and boys starting to look more like men. During puberty, your body will grow faster than at any other time in your life, except for when you were a baby.

It helps to know about the changes that puberty causes before they happen. That way, you know what to expect. It's also important to remember that everybody goes through these changes. No matter where you live, whether you're a boy or a girl, whether you like vanilla or double-fudge-chunk ice cream, you will experience them. No two people are exactly alike, but one thing everyone has in common is that we all go through puberty.

Usually, puberty starts between ages 8 and 13 in girls and ages 9 and 15 in boys. This wide range in ages may help explain why some of your friends still look like young kids whereas others look more like adults.

When your body is ready to begin puberty, your pituitary (say: pih-too-uh-ter-ee) gland (a pea-shaped gland located at the bottom of your brain) releases special hormones. Depending on whether you're a boy or a girl, these hormones go to work on different parts of the body.

Changes for Boys and Girls

For boys, the hormones travel through the blood and tell the testes (say: tes-teez), the two egg-shaped glands in the scrotum (the sac that hangs under the p***s), to begin making testosterone (say: tess-tahs-tuh-rone) and sperm. Testosterone is the hormone that causes most of the changes in a boy's body during puberty, and men need sperm to be able to reproduce (get a woman pregnant).

In girls, these hormones target the two ovaries (say: o-vuh-reez), which contain eggs that have been in the girl's body since she was born. The hormones cause the ovaries to start making another hormone, called estrogen. Together, these hormones prepare a girl's body to start her periods and be able to become pregnant someday.

Boys and girls both begin to grow hair under their arms and their pubic areas (on and around the genitals). It starts out looking light and thin. Then, as kids go through puberty, it becomes longer, thicker, heavier, curlier, and darker. Eventually, boys also start to grow hair on their faces.

It's Just a Growth Spurt

A spurt is a short burst of activity or something that happens in a hurry. And a growth spurt is just that: Your body is growing and it's happening really fast!

When you go through puberty, it might seem like your sleeves are always getting shorter and your pants are creeping up your legs. That's because you're having a growth spurt that lasts for about 2 to 3 years. When that growth spurt is at its peak, some kids grow 4 or more inches (10 or more centimeters) in a year! At the end of your growth spurt, you'll have reached your adult height — or just about.

But your height isn't the only thing that changes during puberty.

With all this quick growth, it can seem like one part of your body — your feet, for instance — are growing faster than everything else. This can make you feel clumsy or awkward. This is normal, too! The rest of your body will eventually fill out and shape up, and you'll feel less klutzy.

Taking Shape

Your body also fills out and changes shape during puberty. A boy's shoulders will grow wider and his body will become more muscular. He may notice a bit of breast growth on his chest. Don't worry, this is normal — and it goes away for most boys by the end of puberty.

In addition, boys' voices crack and eventually become deeper, their penises grow longer and wider, and their testes get bigger. All of these changes mean that their bodies are developing as they should during puberty.

Girls' bodies usually become curvier. Their hips get wider and their breasts develop, starting with just a little swelling under the nipples. Sometimes one breast grows more quickly than the other, but most of the time they even out. Girls may start wearing bras around this time, especially if they are involved in sports or exercise classes.

With all this growing and developing going on, some girls may be uncomfortable with how their bodies are changing, but it's unhealthy for girls to diet to try to stop any normal weight gain. If you have any questions about puberty or are worried about your weight, talk to your parent or doctor.

One question a girl will have is: When will I get my first period? This usually happens about 2 years after her breasts start to develop. The menstrual (say: men-strul) period, or monthly cycle, is when blood is released through the v****a. That may sound alarming, but it's normal and it signals that a girl is growing up and her body is preparing so that she can have a baby someday.

Here's what's going on: Each of a girl's two ovaries holds thousands of eggs. During the menstrual cycle, an egg is released from one of the ovaries and begins a trip down the fallopian (say: fuh-lo-pee-un) tube to the uterus, also called the womb. A girl has two fallopian tubes, one connecting each ovary to the uterus.

Before the egg even leaves the ovary, though, hormones stimulate the uterus to build up its inner lining with extra blood and tissue. If the egg gets to the uterus and is fertilized by a sperm cell, it may plant itself in that lining and grow into a baby. The extra blood and tissue nourishes and protects the baby as it develops.

But most of the time the egg is only passing through. When the egg doesn't get fertilized, or if the fertilized egg doesn't become planted in the lining, the uterus no longer needs the extra blood and tissue, so the blood leaves the body through the v****a. This blood is known as a girl's period. A period usually lasts from 2 to 7 days. About 2 weeks after the last period, a new egg is released as the cycle repeats itself.

Face Up to Changes

Another thing that may come with puberty is acne (say: ak-nee) — or pimples — caused by all those hormones at work in the body.

Skin gets oilier and pimples sometimes start showing up when puberty begins, and you may get them throughout the teenage years. You might see pimples on your face, your upper back, or your upper chest.

To help control pimples, wash your face twice a day with warm water and a mild soap or cleanser. Don't squeeze, pick, or pop your pimples. Your doctor can also offer suggestions for clearing up acne. The good news is that acne usually gets a lot better as you get older.

Putting the P.U. in Puberty

P.U.! A lot of kids notice that they have a new smell under their arms and in other places when they hit puberty — and it's not a pretty one. That smell is body odor (you may have heard people call it B.O.) and everyone gets it.

As you enter puberty, the puberty hormones stimulate the glands in your skin, including the sweat glands under your arms. When sweat and bacteria on your skin get together, it can smell pretty bad.

So what can you do to feel less stinky? Well, keeping clean can stop you from smelling. You might want to take a shower every day, either in the morning before school or at night before bed. Wearing clean clothes and showering after you've been playing sports or exercising is also a good idea.

Another way to cut down on body odor is to use deodorant. If you use a deodorant with antiperspirant, it will cut down on sweat as well.

There's More?

Boys and girls will also notice other body changes as they enter puberty. Girls sometimes might see and feel white or clear stuff coming from the v****a. This doesn't mean anything is wrong — it's called vaginal discharge and is just another sign hormones are changing your body.

Boys will begin to get erections (this is when the p***s fills with blood and becomes hard). Sometimes erections happen when boys think about sexual things or they can happen for no reason at all. Boys also may experience something called nocturnal emissions (or wet dreams). This is when the p***s becomes erect when a boy is sleeping and he ejaculates. When a boy ejaculates, semen — the fluid that contains sperm — comes out of the p***s. That's why they're called wet dreams — they happen when you're sleeping and your underwear or the bed might be a little wet when you wake up. Wet dreams occur less often as boys move through puberty and they eventually stop.

Change Can Feel Kind of Strange

Just as those hormones change the way your body looks on the outside, they also create changes on the inside. During puberty, you might feel confused or have strong emotions that you've never had before. You might feel overly sensitive or become upset easily.

Some kids lose their tempers more often and get angry with their friends or families. You also may feel anxious about how your changing body looks.

Sometimes it can be hard to deal with all these new emotions. It's important to know that while your body is adjusting to the new hormones, so is your mind. Try to remember that people usually aren't trying to hurt your feelings or upset you on purpose. It might not be your family or friends — it might be your new "puberty brain" trying to adjust.

You might also have sexual feelings that you've never felt before. And you will probably have lots of questions about these new, confusing feelings about sex.

It's easy to feel embarrassed or nervous when talking about sex. It's important to get your questions answered, but you need to be sure you have all the right information. Some kids can talk to their parents about sex and get all their questions answered.

But if you feel funny talking to your parents about sex, there are many other people you can talk to, like your doctor, a school nurse, a teacher, a school counselor, or some other adult you feel comfortable talking with.

Developing Differently

People are all a little different from each other, so it makes sense that they don't all develop in the same way. During puberty, everyone changes at his or her own pace. Maybe some of your friends are getting their period, and you haven't developed breasts yet. Maybe your best friend's voice has changed, and you think you still sound like a kid. Or maybe you're sick of being the tallest girl in your class or the only boy who has to shave.

In a few cases, kids who are developing very early or who are very late in starting have a problem that may need to be checked or treated. If you are concerned about that possibility, talk with your parents and schedule a visit with your doctor. Your doctor knows all about puberty and can help determine if you are developing normally.

But just about everyone catches up eventually, and most differences between you and your friends will even out. Until then, hang in there. Puberty can be quite a wild ride!"
http://kidshealth.org/kid/grow/body_stuff/puberty.html#  

[LorienLlewellyn]

I'm Growing Up - But Am I Normal?

"Since your last birthday, a lot of things have changed. For one, you're much smarter than you were last year. That's obvious.

But there might have been some other changes — ones that you weren't ready for. Perhaps you've sprouted several inches above everyone else in class. Or maybe they all did the sprouting and you feel too short.

Maybe you haven't gained a pound and you feel like a feather on the seesaw, or maybe you can't fit into your favorite pair of jeans. And now you're looking in the mirror, thinking only one thing: Am I normal?

Everybody's Different

First of all, what's normal? There's no one type of normal. Otherwise, the world would be full of a lot of abnormal people! The next time you go to the mall, take a look around. You'll see tall people, short people, and people with broad shoulders, little feet, big stomachs, long fingers, stubby legs, and skinny arms ... you get the idea.

You can change your hairstyle or put on a new hat, but the way you look isn't entirely under your control. Your looks were largely determined by your parents. When your parents created you, they passed on their genes — a kind of special code — and those genes helped to decide your size and shape, your eye color and hair texture, even whether you have freckles.

Small or Tall

Height is just one of the thousands of features your genes decide. In fact, because you have two parents, your genes act like a referee, giving you a height that usually lands somewhere between the height of each parent. If both your parents are tall, then most likely you will be tall, too, but if you have questions about how tall you're going to be, ask your doctor if he or she can help you figure it out.

But genes don't decide everything. For example, eating an unhealthy diet can keep you from growing to your full potential. Getting plenty of sleep, enough exercise, and nutrients will help you grow just like you should.

No doubt you're wondering how fast you should grow. It depends. There's no perfect or right amount. On average, kids grow about 2 inches (6 centimeters) a year between age 3 and when they start puberty (when your body starts changing and becoming more grown up).

Your doctor will know how your growth has been going over the years. Two centimeters here and 2 inches there are not nearly as important as the height you're at now, how you've been growing up to this point, and what other changes your body may be going through.

Growth Spurts

Don't be scared if you seem to have grown a lot in a very short time. Everyone has a growth spurt during puberty. The average age for starting puberty is about 10 for girls and about 11 for boys. But it can be earlier or later — between 7 and 13 for girls and 9 and 15 for boys.

You'll usually begin to notice that you're growing faster about a year or so after your body starts to show the first changes of puberty — girls will develop breasts and a boy's p***s and testicles will get bigger.

Weighing In

Weight can vary a lot, too, from kid to kid. It's tempting to compare yourself with your friends. But kids often weigh more or less than their friends and are still considered normal. TV and magazines might make us think our bodies should weigh and look a certain way, but in real life, there are a lot of differences.

Some kids worry so much about their weight that they try unhealthy and dangerous things to change it. The best way to have a healthy weight is to eat right and get a lot of playtime (exercise).

What to Do if You're Worried

If you have concerns about your weight — or how your body is changing — talk it over with a parent or your doctor. The doctor can tell you if anything is wrong.

But most likely, your one-of-a-kind body is growing just like it's supposed to."
http://kidshealth.org/kid/grow/body_stuff/growing_up_normal.html#  

[LorienLlewellyn]

When Will I Get My Period?

"No one can say exactly when you'll get your first menstrual period, but you will get it sometime during puberty. Puberty is the time in your life when you begin to become an adult. This means a lot of growing and changing — both inside and out.

Some girls start puberty at age 8, and others may start as late as 13 or 14. Each girl goes at her own pace. So don't think you're weird if you start puberty a little earlier or a little later than your friends.

At the beginning of puberty, you'll notice that your breasts are developing and hair will start to grow on your genitals (pubic hair). A little later, hair also will grow under your arms.

For most girls, their first menstrual period, or menarche (say: meh-nar-kee), begins about 2 to 2½ years after breast development starts. Some girls may get their period in less than 2 years. For other girls, it may take longer. Every girl is different, and there is a wide range of normal development during puberty.

A good sign you're getting close to the time when your first period will arrive is if you notice a thick, white mucous discharge coming from your v****a. Usually, this happens about 6 months before you get your first period.

You Could Be a Mom Someday

Menstruation is a signal that a girl's body has changed so that someday she could have a baby. Every girl has two ovaries filled with thousands of tiny eggs and two fallopian tubes that connect the ovaries to a place called the uterus or womb, where babies grow.

If you've already gotten your period, it means that special chemicals, or hormones, in your body are telling the eggs in your ovaries to mature. So each month, the ovary releases one mature egg that begins its journey to the uterus.

Between periods, the walls of your uterus get thicker with blood and tissue, which can act as a nice, soft cushion for a baby. Once the egg reaches the uterus, if it hasn't been fertilized by sperm, the uterus doesn't need this blood-and-tissue cushion and it leaves through the v****a. Ta dah! Your period has arrived!

Some girls wonder if their periods are normal. No two girls' periods are exactly alike. Periods can last from 2 days to a week. Some girls have very heavy periods with monthly cramps, and others have much lighter periods after the first couple of days.

It also takes a while (usually 12 to 18 months) for a girl's period to become regular after her first period. You may get your first period and then not have another for a few months. As you get older, your cycle will become more regular — usually between 21 and 34 days in length.

The amount of blood you lose during your period can vary, too. It can seem like a lot, but typically it's only about 2 tablespoons. Call the doctor if you think that you are bleeding too much or you go 3 months without getting your period.

Are you thinking a lot about when your first period will arrive? You're not alone. Lots of girls wonder and wonder — when will it come? If you feel a little worried or anxious about getting your period, it can help to talk to someone you trust, like your mom or older sister."
http://kidshealth.org/kid/grow/body_stuff/when_period.html#  

[LorienLlewellyn]

What's Vaginal Discharge?

"Discharge (say: dis-charge) is a strange word, isn't it? It means something that is pushed out. Vaginal discharge means the fluid or mucus stuff that comes out of a girl's v****a. She might see it or feel it on her underpants.

About 6 months to a year before a girl gets her first period, her body may start to produce vaginal discharge. This is normal and is caused by the changing level of hormones in a girl's body. This discharge helps to keep the v****a healthy. Girls continue to have vaginal discharge after they get their periods. Women also have this discharge, which continues until menopause, when their bodies don't make as much of it.

Normal vaginal fluids can vary. They might be thin and slightly sticky to thick and gooey. They can be clear to white or off-white in color. The amount of discharge can also vary depending upon a girl's menstrual cycle. For example, fluids tend to be a bit heavier around the time a girl ovulates (say: ahv-yuh-lates), which is when an egg is released from the ovary and moves into the fallopian tube.

Normal discharge should have a slight odor and should never cause itching or burning. Problems like itching, a strong odor, or a change in color (such as brown, gray, or green) indicate that a girl may have a vaginal infection and needs to see a doctor.

For normal discharge, a girl can wear a pantiliner if that makes her more comfortable. Sometimes the moisture from normal vaginal discharge can irritate the skin. You can prevent skin irritation in the vaginal area, especially when it's hot and humid outside, by wearing cotton underwear and avoiding clothes like tight jeans and pantyhose that don't let your skin breathe."
http://kidshealth.org/kid/grow/girlstuff/discharge.html?tracking=K_RelatedArticle  

[LorienLlewellyn]

Getting You Period At School

"When will you get your period? That's a big question for girls who are waiting for their very first periods. It's also on the minds of girls who have just started getting periods because — especially for younger girls — periods don't always come exactly on time from month to month.

No one wants to get a surprise in the girls' bathroom at school. Uh-oh. Your period is here — what do you do?

How to Prepare

You can prevent some of this worry by being prepared and having your supplies with you. That means keeping sanitary pads* in your purse, backpack, or locker. Pads, also called sanitary napkins, are made of absorbent material and they stick to your underwear. The pad will catch blood that comes out and keep your clothes from getting stained.

Older girls who've been getting their periods for a while might use tampons. Tampons are absorbent plugs that are inserted into the v****a. These can be more convenient if a girl is playing sports or going swimming.

If you haven't had your period yet, talk to someone who can help you get your supplies together. This might be your mom, an older female relative, or whomever you feel comfortable with. Make it clear that you want to be ready for the big day, whenever it arrives.

You also might talk to your doctor when you go for a checkup. Just by looking at you — and how much you've developed so far — your doctor may be able to tell you, roughly, how soon to expect your first period. It could be arriving in the next 6 months, or it could be a year or more away.

Uh-Oh

Sometimes girls aren't prepared for their periods. (Don't feel bad if this is you because it happens to grown women, too!) So what do you do? You're at school and there it is. Your period has arrived and you don't have your stuff. If it's your first period, you may be really excited and also a little worried. If it's not your first period, you might just be worried. What are you supposed to do?

Ask to visit the nurse. If your school doesn't have a nurse, ask to see the school counselor. Or maybe you have a teacher you really like who you can ask for help. You'll need some supplies. The school nurse or counselor should be able to help. You might feel a little shy about asking, but just say, "I started my period today and I don't have my supplies." If you don't want to talk to a male teacher or counselor, you can just say, "It's a girl thing." He will get the message and find you a woman who can help.

Even if you get the help you need from school staff, you also might call one of your parents. If it's your first period, you probably will want to tell your mom or dad what happened and how you're feeling.

One girl emailed us because she didn't want other girls to worry about getting their periods at school. When this happened to her, she went to her school's medical office, told them she needed a change of clothes, and they called her mother. Simple as that.

"It really isn't that bad or scary," she said.

What if Your Clothes Are Stained?

It's unlikely that your first period will be very heavy, so you'll probably figure out that it's happened before your clothes are stained. But if your clothes do get stained on your first period, or a later one, you'll definitely want to visit the nurse or counselor. You don't want to be worried all day long that someone will see the stain, so you need some fresh clothes. Maybe you have sweatpants in your locker for gym class.

If you don't have any spare clothes, you'll need to see someone on the school staff so you can call a parent who can bring you some clothes or pick you up and take you home. What if you return to class with different pants on and someone asks about it? You don't have to say what really happened. That would be embarrassing. Instead, you can just say something like, "I spilled something on my pants so I changed."

Do you feel less worried now about getting your period at school? We hope so!

Although it's not very convenient to get your period at school, remember that there are people you can turn to for help. You'll get in the habit of being prepared. And before you know it, getting your period — wherever you are — will be no big deal."
http://kidshealth.org/kid/grow/body_stuff/period_school.html#

*I use and highly recommend reusable cloth pads, like LunaPads. They're more expensive than disposable pads upfront, but they're a lot less expensive in the long run because they last for years. And even though it sounds kind of gross to reuse a pad, it's really not. You can toss them right in the wash with your clothes, although some people rinse or soak them first. They're soft and comfortable, and they don't develop the funky smell that disposable pads often develop. They're healthier because they don't have the chlorine that most disposables have, they're better for the environment because they're not going in a landfill every month, and they come in fun patterns. It's a good idea to toss a cup of vinegar in the wash with your pads because it's a good natural germ killer. http://lunapads.com/  

[LorienLlewellyn]

Your Changing Voice

Honk! Squeak! What the heck is that? A goose playing the trumpet? If you're going through puberty (say: pyoo-ber-tee), it could be your voice. Both boys and girls experience voice changes as they grow older, but girls' voices get only a little deeper. A boy's voice, on the other hand, may change quite a bit — from sounding like a little kid to sounding like somebody's dad!

Your Leapin' Larynx

How does this happen? The larynx (say: lahr-inks), also known as your voice box, actually gets bigger during puberty. The larynx, located in your throat, is a tube-shaped piece of cartilage — the same stuff your ears and your nose are made from. One of its jobs is to let you talk, sing, hum, yell, laugh, and make all sorts of noises.

When a boy reaches puberty, his body begins making lots of testosterone (say: tes-tahs-tuh-rone). The testosterone causes his larynx to grow and his vocal cords to get longer and thicker. Vocal cords are thin muscles that stretch across the larynx like rubber bands.

What Makes a Voice?

When you speak, air rushes from your lungs and makes your vocal cords vibrate, producing the sound of your voice. If you've ever plucked a small, thin rubber band, you've heard the high-pitched twang it makes when it's stretched. A thicker rubber band makes a deeper, lower-pitched twang. It's the same sort of thing with vocal cords.

Before you reach puberty, your larynx is pretty small and your vocal cords are kind of small and thin. That's why your voice is higher than an adult's. As you go through puberty, the larynx gets bigger and the vocal cords lengthen and thicken, so your voice gets deeper. As your body adjusts to this changing equipment, your voice may "crack" or "break." But this process lasts only a few months. Once the larynx is finished growing, your voice won't make those unpredictable, funny noises anymore.

What About Eve's Apple?

Not only do older guys and men sound different from boys, but you can also see the difference in their necks. When the larynx grows bigger, it tilts to a different angle and part of it sticks out inside the neck. You can see it at the front of the throat. This is known as the Adam's apple.

For girls, the larynx also grows bigger but not as much as in boys, so you can't see it through a girl's skin. There is no "Eve's apple" in a woman's neck.

Voice Your Changing Voice

Everyone's timetable is different, so some kids' voices might start to change earlier and some might start a little later. Some voices might drop gradually, whereas others might drop quickly.

If this hasn't happened to you yet, don't worry. And if you're going through this now, try not to stress too much about the funny noises you make. It can help to talk to a parent, an older sibling, or a friend who's already gone through the voice change. Before you know it, your voice will sound clear, strong, and more grown-up!"
http://kidshealth.org/kid/grow/body_stuff/changing_voice.html  

[LorienLlewellyn]

Shaving

Hair is confusing. When it's on top of the head it's fine, but when it's on other body parts, sometimes people shave it off. Young kids don't usually do this, but older girls might shave their underarms and their legs. And older boys might shave the hair on their faces.

Just to make it even more confusing, some men don't shave at all — they grow beards and mustaches. Some women also choose not to shave. And some male and female athletes, such as swimmers, shave their entire bodies so they glide better in the water!

You probably want to know when boys and girls need to start shaving. But that's a tough one because it depends on whether you have any hair to shave, whether you see this hair as a problem, and whether your mom or dad thinks it's OK for you to start shaving.

Here's how shaving works: A razor is a sharp blade that cuts the hair off close to the skin. Shaving removes the tip of the hair shaft that pokes out of the skin, but the hair grows back. Your skin might stay smooth for as little as a day or as long as 3 days.

Good stuff about shaving: Shaving is a low-cost way to remove hair. You can do it at home. All you need is a razor, some warm water, and some soap, shaving foam, or gel. Or you can use an electric razor, which is easier to use and less likely to cut your skin than a regular razor.

Not-so-good stuff about shaving: Razors are sharp, so you can cut yourself, especially when you're just learning how to do it. You also can get irritated skin or other problems, such as razor burn, bumps, nicks, cuts, skin infections, or painful ingrown hairs. Ingrown hairs happen when a hair starts growing into the surrounding tissue, instead of up and out of the skin. Also, shaving doesn't last long and when the hair grows back, it may feel stubbly."
http://kidshealth.org/kid/grow/body_stuff/shaving.html?tracking=K_RelatedArticle  

[LorienLlewellyn]

Boys and Puberty

A lot of changes happen as you grow up, especially as you reach puberty (say: pyoo-bur-tee), the name for the time when your body begins to develop and change. Girls start developing breasts and get their periods — signs they are growing into women.

But how do boys know they are growing into men? Let's find out.

For a guy, there isn't just one event or sign that you're growing up. There are lots of them, including your body growing bigger, your voice changing, and hair sprouting everywhere. Most boys begin puberty between the ages of 9 and 14. But keep in mind that puberty starts when a boy's body is ready, and everyone grows at his own pace.

Here are some of the questions boys have.

Why Are Girls Taller Than Me?

You might have noticed that some of the girls you know are taller than the boys. But you've probably noticed that out of the adults you know, most of the men are taller than the women. What's going on?

Well, girls get a head start on puberty — and growing taller — because they usually start these changes between the ages of 8 and 13. Most boys, on the other hand, don't begin until between the ages of 9 and 14. So that's why girls are often taller than boys during that time.

Most boys may catch up — and even grow taller than girls. But it's also important to remember that your genetics play a role in height. So if your mom and dad are tall, you're more likely to be tall. And if your mom and dad are kind of short, you may be short, too. But nothing is definite.

You have to wait and see how it turns out, but you can also talk to a doctor if you're concerned. Remember — not every adult male is tall. Many men who are considered "short" have gone on to have careers in the movies, the military, and even professional basketball!

There aren't any exercises or magic pills to make you grow tall. But by being active and eating nutritious foods, you're helping your body grow up healthy, just the way it should.

When Will I Get Muscles?

During puberty, some boys might become worried about their bodies after seeing what some of their friends look like. For instance, lots of boys are concerned about their muscles. You may have already noticed some boys starting to get chest muscles (called the pectoralis muscles or pecs for short). Others may have broad shoulders (the deltoids, or delts for short). Other boys might still be slimmer and smaller.

Remember that puberty happens on its own schedule, so there's no rushing it if you're a little slower to develop muscles. Maybe you've considered lifting weights to help yourself get bigger. It's important to know that if you haven't quite reached puberty, this will tone your muscles, but it won't build up any muscles yet.

Eating nutritious food and being active (like riding your bike, swimming, and playing sports) will help you be a kid who's strong and fit. In time, you'll reach puberty and you can start building your muscles, too.

Do I Think About Girls Too Much or Not Enough?

There is this girl who lives in your neighborhood and you see her playing with her friends every afternoon when school is done. You get really hot and your palms sweat when she says "hi" to you. That night you go to bed and before you sleep, you have one last thought about her. Every day for the next few weeks you keep thinking about her. You might be wondering, "Why do I feel this way?" You just may have a crush.

Or perhaps your friend keeps talking about this one girl he thinks is so pretty. He goes on and on about how she tells funny jokes. He also tells you that he likes her. You think, "Why don't I feel or talk this way about a girl — am I supposed to?"

Every boy has his own likes and dislikes. And during puberty, some boys are very friendly with girls and others might be nervous about talking to girls. Thinking about someone you like is a normal process of puberty. And if you feel like you don't like any girls, that's fine, too. Eventually, you may find someone who makes you feel giddy inside. Only time will tell.

So why do you feel this way? The hormones in your body are becoming more active. As a result, you're starting to have more feelings. These feelings can confuse you and may leave you scared. This is natural because you are going through a new phase in your life.

Talking with a friend or an older person like your brother or sister might help you be less confused. Older people sometimes have more experience than you, so they can be good people to go to for advice.

What's Up With Body Hair?

Body hair really gets going during puberty. Some boys will start to notice hair growing on their face around the chin, on the cheeks, and above the lip. Also, hair grows on the chest, the armpits, and even down there in the pubic region. Remember that there's nothing to worry about because hair is just one of the body's many ways of telling you that you are on your way to manhood.

You're growing hair in new places because hormones are telling your body that it is ready to change. Some of the hormones that trigger this new hair growth come from your adrenal glands. Other hormones come from your pituitary (say: puh-too-uh-ter-ee) gland (a pea-shaped gland located at the bottom of your brain). These pituitary hormones travel through your bloodstream and make your testicles ("balls") grow bigger and start to release another hormone called testosterone that also helps make your body start sprouting hair in your pubic area, under your arms, and on your face.

Boys don't really need to do anything about this new hair that's growing. Later, when you're a teen, and the hair gets thick enough on your face, you may want to talk with your parents about shaving.

Do I Smell?

You probably know what sweat is, but did you know that it's also called perspiration (say: pur-spuh-ray-shun)? How does it happen? Perspiration comes out of your skin through tiny holes called pores when your body gets hot.

Your body likes a temperature that is 98.6°F (37°C). If you get hotter than that, your body doesn't like it, so then your body sweats. The sweat comes out of the skin, then evaporates (this means it turns from a liquid to a vapor) into the air, which cools you down. Sometimes this sweat or wetness can be smelly and create body odor (sometimes called BO). During puberty, your hormones are working all the time, which explains why you sweat a lot and, well, sometimes smell.

What makes it smelly? The sweat is made almost completely of water, with tiny amounts of other chemicals like ammonia (say: uh-mow-nyuh), urea (say: yoo-ree-uh), salts, and sugar. (Ammonia and urea are left over when your body breaks down protein.) Sweat by itself is not really smelly, but when it comes in contact with the bacteria on your skin (which everyone has) it becomes smelly.

But how can you keep yourself from being all sweaty and smelly? First, you can shower or bathe regularly, especially after playing sports or sweating a lot, like on a hot day. You can also use deodorant under your arms.

Deodorant comes in many good-smelling scents or you can use one that's unscented. Some deodorants come in a white stick that you can twist up. Lots of people put this on after showering or bathing before they put their clothes on. Otherwise, the white stick deodorants can leave white marks on your clothes. You can also choose a deodorant that's clear instead of white.

You can decide to wear a deodorant (which helps stops the smell) or a deodorant/antiperspirant (which helps stops the smell and the sweat). If you find these products aren't working for you, talk with your doctor.

What About Erections?

An erection is what happens when your p***s fills up with blood and hardens. The p***s will become bigger and stand out from the body. Boys will start to notice erections occurring more often when they reach puberty. And they're perfectly normal.

An erection can happen at any time. You can get many in one day or none at all. It depends on your age, sexual maturity, level of activity, and even the amount of sleep you get.

An erection can happen even when you're sleeping. Sometimes you might wake up and your underwear or bed is wet. You may worry that this means you wet your bed like when you were little, but chances are you had a nocturnal emission, or "wet dream." A wet dream is when semen (the fluid containing sperm) is discharged from the p***s while a boy is asleep. Semen is released through the urethra — the same tube that urine (pee) comes out of. This is called ejaculation.

Wet dreams occur when a boy's body starts making more testosterone. This change for boys is little bit like when a girl gets her period. It's a sign a boy is growing up and the body is preparing for the day in the future when a man might decide to be a father. Semen contains sperm, which can fertilize a woman's egg and begin the process that ends with a baby being born.

Although some boys might feel embarrassed or even guilty about having wet dreams, a boy can't help it. Almost all boys normally experience them at some time during puberty and even as adults.

But if you ever have pain or a problem with your p***s or testicles, it is important that someone take you to the doctor.

You may think "Man, I don't want to go to the doctor for that!" But it's best to get problems like this checked out — and your doctor won't be embarrassed at all. It's a doctor's job to help you take care of your body — even that part."
http://kidshealth.org/kid/grow/body_stuff/boys_puberty.html#  

[LorienLlewellyn]

A New Stage in Life

Some girls can't wait for them to come and look forward to their arrival as they would their birthday, first kiss, or a soccer championship.

Other girls dread them as much as eating a big plate of Brussels sprouts or changing the kitty litter.

But most girls have mixed feelings and are not quite certain why they have them and what to do about them. Boys don't have them, but they're likely to be curious about them.

What's the mystery subject? We're talking about breasts. If you're a girl, look down and there they are — or will be soon. They are just two mounds of flesh, but they get a lot of attention. As a girl matures and goes through puberty, breasts tell the world that this girl is leaving girlhood and entering a new stage in her life.

Because large breasts get attention (just look at magazines, TV, or movies), some girls may worry if their breasts are small or if they mature more slowly. Girls with large breasts may be unhappy, too, because their shape attracts attention they don't want. The truth is that beauty doesn't come in just one bra size. There are all sorts of female shapes and sizes in the world, and all are beautiful.

But breasts do more than just look nice. Girls have them so they can do an important job later in life. Someday, if the girl grows up to have a baby, her breasts can provide the milk the baby needs. Breast milk is the very best food for babies and mom is the source. And it doesn't matter if those breasts are small, medium, or large. All sizes can produce enough milk to feed a baby.

When Do Breasts Start Growing?

Breasts can start growing as early as age 8 or as late as 13. Some girls' breasts grow slowly and others grow quickly. Some girls may feel like their breasts will never start growing. But it's just that girls start developing at different ages and different rates. One girl might have more developed breasts at 12, whereas her friend could be still flat as a board.

Breast development happens in stages. The first stage starts during the early part of puberty, when a girl's ovaries enlarge and estrogen, an important female hormone, begins to circulate in the body. Doctors often refer to the early stages of breast development as "breast budding." Get it? Budding — like a flower has buds.

A breast bud is like a small raised bump behind the n****e. After breast budding happens, the n****e and the circle of skin around the n****e (called the areola) get bigger and a little darker. Then the area around the n****e and areola starts to grow into a breast.

As breasts keep growing, they may be pointy for a while before becoming rounder and fuller. For some girls, one breast might be a little bigger than the other one. A girl's breasts may continue to grow during the teen years and even into her early twenties. Fully developed breasts come in all shapes and sizes.

Breast size gets a lot of attention and many girls may wonder how they can make their breasts grow faster or bigger. Despite what some magazine ads say, there isn't any magic cream or pill that can speed up the process or make a girl's breasts larger than they are. In fact, breast size is mostly determined by heredity and a girl's weight. So if a girl's mother has big breasts or small breasts, the girl can expect to have breasts of similar size. And a girl who has more body fat is more likely to have larger breasts.

The ABCs of Bra Sizes

Wearing the right size bra can decrease the number of problems a girl will have with her bra. For instance, a bra that's the right size won't pinch, gap, or slide around. So it makes sense to spend some time learning about bra sizes.

There are two parts to a bra's size: the chest size (also called the band size) and the cup size. The chest or band size is represented by a number (32, 34, 36, etc.) and is the part of the bra that runs across a girl's chest and around her back. The cups are the parts of the bra that hold the breasts and come in letter sizes (AA, A, B, C, etc.).

Bras come in many sizes, which are different combinations of the chest sizes and cup sizes — 32AA, for instance. It's important to get both the chest and cup sizes right to ensure a proper fit. Some bra manufacturers are now starting to offer cup options in half sizes in addition to regular cups to help girls get a better fit.

What Size Bra to Buy?

A girl might feel shy about her growing breasts and not want other people talking about them, looking at them, and measuring them. But it's wise for a girl to get measured so she knows her correct bra size.

The women who work in the bra departments of stores can help a girl with this measurement. A girl also can do it at home if she has her mom or a friend help her. Here's how to do it:

Run a tape measure just under your breasts, all the way around your back and ribcage. The tape measure should rest flat on your skin and lie straight across your back — not so tight that it digs in, but not so loose that it sags down in the back.

Make a note of your measurement and add 5 inches. That's your chest size.
To measure cup size, take the tape measure around your body across the fullest part of your breasts.

Write down this number and subtract your chest measurement from it. The difference between the numbers is a way of figuring out your cup size. If the difference between the two numbers is less than 1 inch, your cup size is AA. If it's 1 inch, your cup size is A; 2 inches, you're a B; 3 inches you're a C, and so on. For instance, if your cup measurement was 33 and your chest measurement was 32, that's a 1-inch difference. Your bra size is 32A.

If your chest measurement comes out as an odd number (such as 31 inches or 33 inches), it's usually a good rule to round down to the next number. Most bras have a few sets of adjustable hooks and eyes, so you can adjust the tightness. It's a good idea to round down, rather than round up, since bras tend to stretch over time.

What Kind of Bra to Buy?

A first bra used to be called a "training bra" — it was for girls who didn't yet fit into the cups of standard-size bras, but wanted basic support and comfort.

These days, many girls' first bra is a sports bra, a type of bra worn by active women of any age. Sports bras prevent fully grown breasts from jiggling around when a woman is playing sports or exercising. Because they're flatter in the cup area, sports bras also make really good first bras for many girls. In fact, because of sports bras, and dresses and tops that have built-in bras, a girl might not need a training bra or a more traditional bra early on. Not all sports bras are alike, so a girl should try on a few to figure out which ones she prefers.

In addition to sports bras, there are a lot of other types of bras. The most natural-looking bra is a soft-cup bra, which doesn't do much to change the shape of a girl's breasts. Soft-cup bras come in different fabrics and thicknesses and some may have an underwire. Underwire is a U-shaped wire inside the fabric that goes under the breasts to help support them. If a girl's breasts are C cup or larger, an underwire bra is a good choice.

Other bras may have more structured cups and some come with padding inside. Minimizer bras are also available for girls who want their breasts to appear smaller. These bras are usually made of relatively thick fabric and often have substantial backs and straps.*

A Girl's Changing Shape

Breasts are just one sign that a girl is getting older and on her way to becoming a woman. If a girl has questions or concerns about breasts or bras, the good news is that there are plenty of women and older girls to ask.

And if a girl is worried about how slowly her breasts are growing, her doctor is also a good source of information. More often than not, a girl is developing normally and before she knows it, she'll be bra shopping, too."
http://kidshealth.org/kid/grow/body_stuff/breasts_bras.html#

*I deleted a few paragraphs from this section because they made it sound like girls have to wear bras, but that's just not true. Some girls wear them, other girls don't. And that's true of girls with small breasts, girls with medium breasts, and girls with large breasts. My breasts got large quickly. By 14 I was wearing a DD cup. I wore a bra with underwire during the day and a bra without underwire to bed at night. My breasts grew so fast that I wasn't used to feeling them flop around, so I always wanted them held in place. But then, when I was maybe 24ish I read about a study. The researchers found that the women in the study had perkier breasts and stronger, healthier ligaments surrounding their breasts after ditching their bras. It was a small study, and you have to take everything with a grain of salt, especially if it's a small study. But I decided to try going braless. It felt really weird for a few weeks, but then I got used to it. That was about 5 years ago, and I am still braless today. Now not wearing a bra feels natural and comfortable and wearing one feels weird to me! So no matter your age, no matter your size, you are free to wear a bra or not wear a bra.  

[LorienLlewellyn]

Acne

"If you're almost a teen, chances are pretty good that you have some acne. About 8 in 10 preteens and teens have acne, along with many adults. In fact, about 17 million people in the United States have acne. Acne is so common that it's considered a normal part of growing from a kid to an adult.

But knowing that doesn't make it easier when you look in the mirror and see a big pimple on your chin! The good news is that learning about acne and taking some simple steps can help you feel better about your face.

Acne is a skin condition that shows up as different types of bumps. They include whiteheads, blackheads, red bumps (pimples), and bumps that are filled with pus (pustules). What causes these annoying bumps? Well, your skin is covered with tiny holes called hair follicles, or pores. Pores contain sebaceous (say: suh-bay-shus) glands (also called oil glands) that make sebum (say: see-bum), an oil that moistens your hair and skin.

Most of the time the glands make the right amount of sebum, and the pores are fine. But sometimes a pore gets clogged up with too much sebum, dead skin cells, and germs called bacteria. This can cause acne.

If a pore gets clogged up, closes, and bulges out from the skin, that's a whitehead. If a pore clogs up but stays open, the top surface can get dark and you're left with a blackhead. Sometimes the walls of the pore are broken, allowing sebum, bacteria, and dead skin cells to get under the skin. This causes a small, red infection called a pimple. Clogged-up pores that open up deep in the skin can lead to bigger infections known as cysts.

Why Do So Many Kids Get Acne?

A lot of kids and teens get a type of acne called acne vulgaris. It usually appears on the face, neck, shoulders, upper back, and chest. Teens and kids get acne because of the hormone changes that come with puberty. As you grow up and your body begins to develop, these hormones stimulate the sebaceous glands to make more sebum, and the glands can become overactive. When there is too much sebum, that oil clogs the pores and leads to acne.

If your parent had acne as a teen, it's likely that you will, too. Stress may make acne worse, because when you're stressed, your pores may make more sebum. Luckily, for most people, acne gets better by the time they're in their twenties.

What Can I Do About Acne?

If you're worried about acne, here are some ways to keep pimples away:

To help prevent the oil buildup that can lead to acne, wash your face once or twice a day with warm water and a mild soap or cleanser.

Don't scrub your face. Scrubbing can actually make acne worse by irritating the skin. Wash gently, using your hands instead of a washcloth.

If you wear makeup, moisturizer, or sunscreen, make sure they are "oil-free," "noncomedogenic," or "nonacnegenic."

When you wash your face, take the time to remove all of your makeup.

If you use hair sprays or gels, try to keep them away from your face because they can clog pores.

If you have long hair, keep it away from your face and wash it regularly to reduce oil.

Baseball caps and other hats can cause pimples along the hairline. Avoid them if you think they are worsening your acne.

Wash your face after you've been exercising and sweating a lot.

Try not to touch your face.

Don't pick, squeeze, or pop pimples.

Many lotions and creams are sold at drugstores to help prevent acne and clear it up. You can try different ones to see which helps. Products with benzoyl peroxide (say: ben-zoil peh-rok-side) or salicylic (say: sal-uh-sil-ick) acid in them are usually pretty helpful for treating acne. Benzoyl peroxide kills the bacteria that can lead to acne and it also can reduce swelling (puffiness) of pimples. Salicylic acid is another acne-fighting ingredient. It causes skin to dry out and peel, which can help get rid of pimples, too.

When you use a product for acne, be sure to follow the directions exactly. Don't use more than you're supposed to because it can make your skin very red and very dry. It's also good to try just a little bit at first to be sure that you're not allergic to the product. Don't give up if you don't see results the next day. Acne medicine can take weeks or months to work.

What If I Get Pimples Anyway?

Some kids will rarely get a pimple — those lucky ducks! But many kids will get some pimples, even if they take steps to prevent acne. It's totally normal. In fact, some girls who have a handle on their acne may find that it comes out a few days before they get their periods. This is a common problem called premenstrual acne and is caused by hormonal changes in the body. Boys undergo hormonal changes, too, and may be more likely to suffer from severe forms of acne.

Even if you get acne, you don't want to make it worse. That's why it's important to keep your hands off your pimples. Try not to touch, squeeze, or pick at a pimple. When you play around with pimples, you can cause even more inflammation by poking at them or opening them up. Plus, the oil from your hands can't help! The worst part, though, is that picking at pimples may lead to scars on your face.

Some people will tell you that sitting out in the sun helps acne. But this isn't true. A suntan can make acne look less severe by hiding pimples, but it won't help them go away. And too much sun isn't a good idea anyway because it can give you a sunburn today and wrinkles and skin cancer later in life.

Kids who have serious acne can get help from their doctor or a dermatologist (a doctor who treats skin problems). Doctors can prescribe stronger medicine than you can buy at the store. Acne prescriptions can include stronger creams that prevent pimples from forming or antibiotics that decrease swelling (puffiness) and kill bacteria that cause pimples.

If you have acne, now you know some ways to improve your skin. And remember that you're not alone. Look around at your friends and you'll see that most kids and teens are in it together!"
http://kidshealth.org/kid/grow/body_stuff/acne.html#  

[LorienLlewellyn]

All About Menstruation

People (especially girls) talk a lot about periods. But what exactly is a period and what makes it happen?

A girl's first period, called menarche (say: meh-nar-kee), signals that she is growing up and her body is preparing so that she might have a baby someday. A period is the 2 to 7 days that a girl or woman experiences menstrual flow — blood and tissue that leaves the body through the v****a.

For most girls, it amounts to about 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters). To catch the blood and prevent stains on her clothes, a girl can wear a pad, which sticks to her underwear, or a tampon, which is inserted into the v****a.

What's Going On Inside?

The blood and tissue leaves the body because it's no longer needed. It comes from the uterus, the organ inside a woman's body where a baby grows. Each month, blood and tissue build up in the uterus in case the woman becomes pregnant. That lining would be needed if the woman's egg was fertilized by a man's sperm cell. A fertilized egg attaches to that cushiony lining and begins growing into a baby.

But most of the time, the egg does not get fertilized, the lining is shed, and the girl or woman has her period.

Let's talk for a minute about eggs. They're not the kind you buy in a carton at the store! Girls and women have two ovaries. Each of these ovaries holds thousands of eggs, which are tiny (each no bigger than the tip of a pin). During the menstrual cycle, an egg is released from one of the ovaries and begins a trip down one of the fallopian (say: fuh-lo-pee-un) tubes to the uterus, also called the womb.

If a sperm cell does not fertilize the egg, the unfertilized egg and the lining from the uterus leave the body. In other words, a girl has her period. The cycle then begins again. The lining of the uterus will start building up, and about 2 weeks after the last period, another egg will be released.

What's a Cycle?

When people talk about the menstrual (say: men-strul) cycle, they usually mean the days when blood and tissue (menstrual fluid) leaves the body through the v****a. That's the most visible part of the process, and the part that girls and women need to manage.

But the monthly cycle is exactly that — a process that takes about a month. A normal menstrual cycle for girls and teens ranges from 21 to 45 days. At most, only a week of the cycle involves menstrual fluid exiting the body. A normal period lasts from 2 to 7 days.

The rest of the time, the girl doesn't have any bleeding but other stuff is happening, like the lining building up and the egg being released.

When Periods Start

Most girls start to menstruate between ages 10 and 15 years. The average age is 12, but every girl's body has its own schedule.

Although there's no one right age for a girl to get her period, there are some clues that menstruation will start soon. Typically, a girl gets her period about 2 years after her breasts start to develop. Another sign is vaginal discharge fluid (sort of like mucus) that a girl might see or feel on her underwear. This discharge usually begins about 6 months to a year before a girl gets her first period.

What's Normal?

Especially when menstrual periods are new to a girl, it can be tough to know what's normal and what's not. Talking to your mom or another grownup woman is a good idea since they've been through it.

But for some problems, it's best to talk with the doctor. Here are some of them:

Your period lasts longer than a week.
You have to change your pad very often (soaking more than one pad every 1-2 hours).
You go longer than 3 months between periods.
You have bleeding in between periods.
You have an unusual amount of pain before or during your period.
Your periods were regular but became irregular.

Here are some additional concerns, which many girls have when they are just starting their periods.

What If My Periods Are Irregular?

For older girls and women, their periods pretty much stick to a regular pattern. The entire cycle lasts the same number of days (21 to 34) and they have bleeding for about the same number of days (less than a week). For the first year, a girl's periods are often irregular and hard to predict.

It's a good idea to keep track of your period with a calendar. Talk with your doctor if you're concerned about the length of your period or cycle. About 6 years after a girl's first period, the cycles usually get shorter and more regular.

What If I Have Cramps?

For minor pain, you can take over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen. Other things you can do that may help with menstrual cramps include:

regular exercise
heating pads on your lower abdomen
meditation or relaxation

Talk to your doctor if these solutions don't work for you, especially if your period is keeping you from going to school or participating in stuff you want to do, like activities and sports.

How Much Bleeding Is Too Much?

Menstrual flow can seem like a lot, but usually isn't. Most girls change their pad about three to six times a day over the course of a period — with more changes when the flow is heaviest and fewer changes when the flow is lighter — usually at the very beginning and end.

Let your doctor know if your flow seems heavier than this or lasts more than a week.

What If I Get Moody Around My Period?

Hormone changes can cause girls to feel more sad or irritable before their periods start. Talk to your doctor if this happens to you. Being physically active is a natural mood lifter, so regular exercise often helps.

In Praise of Periods!

It's normal to be a little nervous about your first period. And if you've already had your period a while, it's OK to dislike the inconveniences it can cause. But don't forget to feel proud, too. Menstruation is a sign of normal growth and development. In other words, you're healthy and you're growing up just the way you should!"
http://kidshealth.org/kid/grow/body_stuff/menstruation.html