Males go through many important changes during puberty as their body starts to change they become more stronger, their voice changes and cracks up and they also begin to mature sexually goes through many important changes during puberty. Boys go through five stages of puberty as their body begins to develop and they change from being a boy to a young man.
In This Article:
When Is The Onset Of Puberty In Males?
Puberty for males does not occur overnight as it is a process that occurs in different stages for different people. So do not fret if your neighbour or your friend who is the same age as you has hit puberty and you haven’t. Various factors such as body mass, genetic factors, general health and nutritional state determine puberty and it can vary widely between individual.
For males on an average puberty begins at age 11 though it can also begin as early as 9 or as late as 14 years of age. When boys go through physical changes some are more gradual than others and some boys may mature faster than their Peers.
Puberty Stages In Boys
Stage One
This is the stage between 9 and 12 years of age and first signs of puberty begins to develop in males. Visibly there are no signs of development during this stage but male hormones become a lot more active internally. Testicles and scrotum begin to grow as the boy enters puberty and so will his pubic hair during this time.
Stage Two
This stage of puberty in boys is between 11 to fifteen years of age. During this phase the shape of the body changes and height increases around the age of 13 and just before that boys put on a little weight. Their shoulders broaden and muscles develop more definition. They become stronger as their muscle tissue and fat develop during this time. Puberty in boys brings about changes in their areolas as well. The nipple darkens and increases in size. Penis does not grow but testicles and scrotum do. At the base of the penis, little pubic hair begins to grow.
Stage Three
This stage occurs between 11 and 16 of age in boys. The male genetilia, penis tends to grow in length rather than width during this stage of puberty in boys. Tiny pearly bumps called papules appear on the penis for around one third of boys during this stage. They are harmless and they look like pimples and are also permanent.
While going through this phase boys may notice their pubic hair get coarser and darker as it begins spreading where the legs meet the torso. Young males continue to grow in height and the appearance of their faces gets more mature. Voice starts to change, muscles increase and as their shoulders broaden, the hips look smaller. Development of facial hair on upper lips begins.
Change in their voice occurs as the vocal chords and larynx gains mass and their voice may crack and go soar, going high to low quickly before the voice changes completely.
Stage Four
This is the stage between the age of 11 to 17. During this stage of puberty in males their testicles and scrotum continue to grow and the penis starts to grow in width as well. Facial hair and underarm hair increase and skin becomes oilier. Along this time their voice continues to deepen and Hair may begin to grow on the anus. Boys during this time may begin to experience nocturnal emissions in which they ejaculate at night while sleeping. It is normal and can occur even without any appearance of sexual dreams. Another big part of puberty in boys is involuntary erections that occur anytime without any reason.
Stage Five
This is the last stage of puberty in boys and it comes around 14 to 18 years of age. They reach their full height and their genitals and pubic hair look like that of an adult man. It is normal if some boys keep growing even after this phase into their twenties. Another prominent relation between boys and puberty is skin issues like acne, mood swings as they experience physical, emotional and hormonal changes as well.
Apart from the natural physical changes in boys, they will also go through a range of emotions while going through puberty. These emotions may range from feeling sad, irritable and sometimes even depressed. Not only this, but they may also feel confusion and fear. Other heavy emotions like desire and related to their sexuality may also surface but they level out by the end of puberty period.
However, while they’re going through stages of puberty their emotions may become intense and much stronger and something like they’ve never experienced before. They may not know the reason behind their confusion or anger as it is common. This would make them sensitive and may lead to upset them more than usual.
How To Deal With Puberty?
There are many concerns that pop up in the minds of parents and children alike. Is the growth happening too fast or too slow? They wonder if they need to make alterations in their diet and when will they stop growing and stop displaying raging emotions.
Boys may feel concerned about it as well when they compare their growth to their friends and peers. So it becomes crucial to understand and address these emotions. Know that there is no need to be self-conscious or anxious even if you are the first or last to go through growth spurts.
Normalize talking about even the most awkward parts of growing up and reassure your child that they’ll get through this phase and have open conversations about the changes that are happening in their bodies.
Lastly, stay calm and positive about the pace you’re growing and feel good about your body’s appearance. It is advisable to contact a paediatrician if something abnormal occurs.
Sources:
- health.clevelandclinic.org/stages-of-puberty-for-boys/amp/
- www.nhs.uk/live-well/sexual-health/stages-of-puberty-what-happens-to-boys-and-girls/
- www.verywellfamily.com/stages-of-puberty-in-boys-the-changing-male-body-3200880
