What’s Happening To Me? A Guide To Your Body

Puberty, what is it? Puberty usually starts sometime between 9 years old - 14 years old Just because you may not start at the “right” time doesn’t mean you are not normal Puberty starts because hormones in the body are turned “on”

What Is Going to Happen? Sweat glands increase in number and activity Growth spurt Acne (“zits”) Pubic hair grows Erections happen more often Ejaculation Hair increases and darkens on face, underarms, arms and legs Feet get bigger and may smell Now, when we talk about our genitals we use lots of terms, some are crude, some are anatomical, and some are just plain weird. We are going to use the anatomical terms today and so should you from now on. Using these terms lets people know that you are mature enough to talk about your body and that you have some good information that you can share. When you use the slang, crude words that we all know and hear, you sound as if you don’t have the respect for your own body that you should have.

Typical Order of Changes Testicles grow larger First pubic hair Penis enlarges Ejaculation Height growth spurt Shoulders broaden Voice changes Hair on upper lip or underarms

First Things First Stage 1 is where boys are at from birth until puberty begins. There are few noticeable changes Stage 2 begins with testicular enlargement Not unusual for one testicle to hang lower than the other Pubic hair may begin to grow Dr. Tanner, a physician that studied puberty, made diagrams of how the male body changes during puberty. These are known now as the Tanner stages of development and these help your doctor figure out about where you are in your development. By understanding these stages you can estimate where you are in puberty and when you are just about done with puberty. Stage 1: birth until puberty- no noticeable changes scrotum-increases somewhat in size; penis-increases somewhat in size; pubic hair-none Stage 2: usually begins around age 10 Scrotum enlarges; penis has little change; hair-may begin to show up by base of penis

Stage 3 Stage 4 Stage 3: (the lengthening stage)- begins when penis grows noticeably longer testicles continue to enlarge; pubic hair-if hadn’t started yet it will usually do so in this stage Stage 4: (the widening stage)- begins when the penis grows noticeable wider testicles/scrotum continues to enlarge and skin darkens pubic hair has usually developed by now, gets curlier and darkens Stage 5: (the adult stage) begins when the sex organs are fully developed testicles/scrotum fully developed and deepen in color; penis is fully developed and deeper in color; pubic hair may continue to grow until about age 20 Stage 5

Testicular Self Exam How Do I Do A TSE? Check yourself right after a hot shower. The skin of the scrotum is then relaxed and soft. Become familiar with the normal size, shape and weight of your testicles. Using both hands, gently roll each testicle between your fingers. Identify the epididymis. This is a rope-like structure on the top and back of each testicle. This structure is NOT an abnormal lump. Be on the alert for a tiny lump under the skin, in front or along the sides of either testicle. A lump may remind you of a piece of uncooked rice or a small cooked pea. Report any swelling to your health care provider. Testicular cancer is the most common type of cancer in males ages 18 to 40, and it can occur anytime after age fifteen. a method for guys and men to check their testicles to make sure there aren't any unusual bumps or lumps, which may be the first sign of testicular cancer If you have any lumps or swelling, it does not necessarily mean you have cancer, but you must be checked by your health care provider. If detected and treated early , testicular cancer is one of the most curable cancers Warning Signs of A Problem In the early stages, testicular cancer may have no symptoms. When there are symptoms, they include: Small, painless lump in a testicle. Enlarged testicle. Feeling of heaviness in the testicle or groin. Pain in the testicle. A change in the way the testicle feels. Enlarged male breasts and nipples. Blood or fluid that accumulates suddenly in the scrotum.

The Outer Genital Organs

Circumcised or Uncircumcised Circumcision is an operation where the foreskin (the skin covering the top of the penis) is removed Most are done when babies are just days old Some have boys circumcised for religious reasons, some for medical Regardless of which way you are you should wash your penis every day Uncircumcised boys should pull back the foreskin all the way that it will go comfortably Never force the foreskin back circumcised uncircumcised

Erections An erection is when the penis enlarges in size, becomes stiff and lifts up to stand out from the body at an angle The spongy tissue in the penis fills with blood Can develop slowly or very fast Can last a short time or a long time…sooner or later, it will go down Men, boys, and even babies have erections May be there when you wake up Think of ways that you can cope with an erection that happens at an embarrassing time -wear baggy pants/long shirt if they keep happening -shift your notebook to cover it -put your hands in your pocket and try to hide it -tie a sweatshirt around waist and let the sleeves cover it -try to focus on something else until it goes away -probably more noticeable to you than anyone else SIZE Average 3-4 in when soft ~6 in when erect

The Inner Genital Organs testicles-place where sperm are made Epididymis-long coiled tubes where sperm mature Sperm duct-(vas deferens) narrow tubes where sperm travel as they move up the body; runs from epididymus up into the body, loops around the bladder and joined by a tube from the seminal vesicle and then enters the prostate to connect with the urethra Bladder-where urine is stored Seminal vesicles-where sticky fluid is made that is added to sperm Prostate-glad that adds more fluid to semen Urethra-tube in the center of the penis. Both semen and urine leave through the same tube

Ejaculation During puberty the testicles make sperm for the first time Ejaculation is when a boy releases sperm from the body for the first time The sperm are mixed with other fluids to make semen which comes out the opening at the end of the penis Amazing sperm facts: -normal ejaculate contains ~ 300 million sperm -can’t run out because your body is constantly making more -takes 2-3 months for a sperm to develop completely -urine and semen cannot travel through the urethra at the same time

Wet Dreams Also called a nocturnal emission 1/3 of boys have their first ejaculate while they are asleep Happens more to pubertal boys than older males Bed or pajamas might be slightly wet from the semen Possible to have a wet dream without knowing it

Other Important Changes Body Odor Eww, smell that? It might be you! Shower, Shower, Shower! Don’t use that shirt Use deodorant or anti-persperant Cologne isn’t always the answer Foot Odor Shoes trap the sweat and give bacteria a warm moist place to grow Wear absorbent socks Keep feet dry and clean (wash especially between the toes) B.O. is caused by the increased amount of sweat your body is making. While sweat itself doesn’t smell, when it meets the bacteria on your skin it begins to stink Important To shower every Day and wash With soap and water Wear clothes that are clean rather than the ones off of your floor Deodorant only covers up the smell Anti-persperant stops the sweat Not a substitute for soap and water Don’t just cover the smell with perfumes, wash it away in the shower

Zits, pimples, acne Oil glands below the skin make more sebum (an oily substance that keeps the skin moist) Sebum gets backed up in the oil glands and cause white or blackheads Wash your face twice a day- doing it more often will not help DO NOT Squeeze acne -> it will cause a scar Talk to your doctor if it is really bad

Hair, hair, everywhere… Underarm (armpit) hair Arm and leg hair Amount of hair may increase and it may be darker Facial hair Usually appears around 14-16 years old First show up around outer corners of upper lip May want to explain a little about shaving…I don’t know anything about this so I am sure you can wing it

Growing Up, Up, Up Growth Spurt More muscles

Other Important Changes Voice Changes Adam’s apple gets bigger