Boys in puberty: what changes?
UBoys going through puberty experience a time when their bodies, but also their feelings and behavior, change. Here you will find an overview of the physical and mental development steps that boys take during puberty and how you can support your son during this phase.
He doesn’t stick to any family rules, gives stubborn answers and things aren’t going well at school either. When puberty sets in, you and your “little” boy face completely new challenges.
It is not possible to say in general terms when your child will be ready and how puberty will progress in boys. According to recent studies, however, it seems that not only girls are reaching puberty earlier , but also boys. On average, the participants in the study started puberty at the age of nine to ten – about one and a half to two years earlier than previously thought. However, the reasons for this could not be clearly clarified. One thing is certain: genetic factors in particular determine when puberty begins.
Puberty in boys: The first wave of hormones
The so-called pre- puberty begins for many boys at the age of 9 to 11 years . A first wave of male sex hormones – androgens – is released and manifests itself physically in the first pubic hair and the growth of the testicles. The body is full of energy, which is why boys have a particularly high urge to move during this phase of puberty .
Emotions and behavior are also influenced by hormones. On some days your son may be quite a child and dig out old toys again. On other days he is defiant and demands a “grown up” youth room. The transition from child to adolescent is sometimes difficult for both sides.
boys in puberty
At the peak of puberty – between the ages of 12 and 17 – boys’ bodies go through a lot of changes:
- The voice changes. The voice break is caused by the growing larynx and the resulting stretching of the vocal cords. During this transition phase, the voice often sounds rough and fluctuates between high and low octaves.
- Most boys unconsciously experience the first ejaculation while they are sleeping and only discover the wet spot on their body or bedding in the morning. While girls often discuss their first menstrual period with their mothers, first ejaculation is rarely discussed with their parents. If you find traces on clothing or bed linen, the topic should be approached very sensitively.
- Most boys stop growing their testicles by the age of 14 or 15. The scrotum becomes a little darker. The circumference and size of the penis can still change up to the age of 17. Inside the body, the prostate and seminal vesicles mature, which produce most of the sperm secretion.
- The pubic hair around the testicles and base of the penis becomes denser. The initially smooth hairs curl up. Many boys start growing their beard comparatively late. The delicate fluff becomes denser and stronger over the years.
- Boys experience a significant growth spurt during puberty. The shoulders and chest broaden, while the hips usually remain narrow. The body builds muscle mass. In this phase, many boys feel a little uncomfortable and awkward, but after a while they get used to the new body. Attention: The hormonal chaos in some boys during puberty leads to a slight breast development, which, however, disappears again after a while.
- Many boys suffer from pimples and blackheads during puberty . The culprit is increased sebum production in the skin, which promotes impurities and small inflammations. While blemished skin can be managed at home, puberty acne should be evaluated and treated by a dermatologist.
Rejection, indifference, aggressive and argumentative discussions are classic behavior patterns for boys during puberty. They test their limits, seek more freedom and deal more and more with their own sexuality . Status and peer recognition are becoming increasingly important, while family life tends to take a back seat.
In comparison with other boys, but also with male role models from the media, questions and doubts can arise: Am I normal? Do I get on well with others? Will I keep changing? You can’t take everything off your son’s shoulders as he grows up, but you can always offer support. The “embarrassing” conversations about the body, contraception and sexuality are just as much a part of it as is interest in what is moving his life at the moment.
Girls know relatively early that they can turn to a gynecologist if they have any medical questions. For boys, on the other hand, going to the doctor is not a matter of course. If physical problems are concealed out of shame, this can have serious consequences. Therefore, explain to your son that an appointment with a urologist or youth doctor is not an embarrassment, but an opportunity to clarify all questions and fears. Respect if your son prefers to go to the appointment alone. A doctor’s visit is highly recommended if…
• …at the age of 15 there are still no typical signs of puberty.
• …the foreskin is painfully tight.
• …pain when urinating.
• …purulent discharge forms at the exit of the urethra.
Boys in the last spurt of puberty
Late puberty begins around the age of 17 and marks the last steps into adult life. The physical changes are largely complete. Your son has settled into his new body and is breaking away from his parents’ home even more. This includes the development of one’s own values and ideas for the future, whereby the rules and values of one’s own parents are also critically put to the test.
This process of cutting the umbilical cord is certainly painful for you at times. This is what many parents go through when their children grow up. But isn’t it also exciting and nice to watch how the little boy from back then develops into an individual personality that you meet on an equal footing?