My Changing Body & Managing Puberty

Definitions

Adolescent, a person growing from childhood to adulthood.

Adolescence, a stage of growth and development between childhood and adulthood, ages 9 to 19.

Puberty, the process of physical and emotional change during adolescence.

Hormones, chemical messengers that tell your body what to do and when to do it.

Guiding questions

1. What physical and emotional changes occur in the lives of boys as they grow?

2. At what stage do boys experience the most common changes?

3. Who do boys talk to when they experience many of these changes?

4. What myths do boys know or have heard about the body changes that occur to them?

5. How are the changes boys experience different from those girls experience?

Physical changes for boys

Weight increases before going through the growth spurt.

Height increases; muscles start to grow.

Boys' penises and testicles increase in size.

You may start experiencing wet dreams, ejaculation during sleep. This is completely normal.

Oil glands become more active, which may result in pimples.

Sweat glands become more active, sweating increases under the arms and in genital areas.

Hair grows around the genital area and under the armpits, and in some parts of the body like the chest and legs.

Growth of beards. Voices deepen and may crack unexpectedly.

NOTE: not everyone experiences these changes the same way, some grow little or no pubic hair or beard, which is perfectly normal.

Emotional and social changes

Boys may develop feelings or get attracted to the opposite sex.

Boys may become moodier and experience unfamiliar emotions.

Some boys experience low self-esteem, appreciate your body the way it is and don't be embarrassed by the changes.

Desire to fit in and belong, this pushes you to make more friends, but as you grow older your friendships become intentional.

Menstruation / periods for girls

Girls start menstruating around 10 to 13 years, but some as early as 8 or as late as 18. There is no specific age because of hormones, environment, diet, etc.

Managing puberty

Bathe daily and wear clean clothes. Do not wear the same clothes more than once just to avoid washing, a smelly body attracts negative comments that hurt your esteem.

Regularly shave your pubic hair to maintain good hygiene using a shaver. Do not share the shaver.

Be patient with your skin. Pimples are a stage of life, they are NOT a sign to start having sex. They clear naturally with time.

Your emotions will change; managing them is a skill you need to practise.

Having wet dreams and erections is normal and does NOT mean you are ready to have sex. Learning to control your feelings is important.

Activity, Exploring attitudes around body changes

Step (a): Tell participants you will read out sentences one at a time. If they agree, move near a smiling-face picture; if they disagree, move to an unhappy face; if unsure, stay in the middle.

Step (b): Ask three or four of each group to defend their decision. Then read out the correct answer and facts.

Statement 1: "Boys who develop body changes faster than others are older." Correct answer: NO. Due to different factors like environment and diet that affect hormonal development, changes take place at different rates, a boy in a hotter environment may experience changes earlier than one in a colder one.

Statement 2: "Boys should exercise their penis by having sex so it grows bigger." Correct answer: NO. Sex does not make the penis grow bigger. During puberty some body parts naturally grow, the penis increases in size and length, shoulders/arms/legs grow, voice deepens, hair grows in new places. Boys will start having erections and wet dreams, an erection is when the penis becomes stiff and larger than usual.

Statement 3: "I like the way I look." Supplement participants' answers by explaining that liking your appearance boosts self-esteem and confidence and helps resist negative peer pressure.