All You Need to Know

• How does my body change during puberty?

  These are some of the most common changes which happen during puberty:

  • Pubic hair starts to grow. It might start to grow at the base of your penis, before spreading across the pubic area and towards your thighs.
  • You start having erections - this is when your penis grows and becomes hard. It might happen when you are thinking about sex or someone you find attractive, or it can be for no reason at all.
  • Your testicles produce sperm, which comes out of your penis in a white/grey fluid called semen. This is called ejaculation and it can sometimes happen in your sleep.
  • Your body changes shape - you get taller, heavier and your muscles grow.
  • Your voice breaks and becomes deeper.
  • Your hair and skin become greasier and you get spots or acne.
  • You sweat more.

• My friends have started puberty, why haven't I?

  Don't worry if some of your friends start puberty before you - everyone develops at their own rate.

  However, if you haven't started puberty by the age of 14, it's a good idea to see your GP to check everything is okay. if you feel nervous about doing that on your own, speak to an adult you trust to get some help and advice.

• What is masturbation?

  This is when you touch or rub your penis because it gives you a feeling of pleasure. It can lead to you having an orgasm, where semen comes out of your penis.

  It is natural to want to masturbate and it's nothing to be ashamed of. You should know when it is okay to masturbate - doing it in public is not acceptable, for example.

  You might think about masturbating quite often and that is normal. If it starts to affect your everyday life, however, you might need to cut down how often you masturbate. You could try focusing on other things, such as exercise.

  If you're worried, you could speak to a trusted adult, or try speaking to someone in confidence at a service such as Childline.

• I'm worried about how my body looks

  It's normal to compare yourself to other people and to worry that your body doesn't look as good as theirs.

  You might worry about the size of your penis, or how big your muscles are. Try to remember that everyone is different and there is no right or wrong shape.

  Be kind to yourself and do things which make you feel good, such as going for a walk or playing sport.

• What can I do about smelling bad?

  During puberty, you sweat more and this can make parts of your body, such as your armpits, smell bad.

  Keep those areas clean by washing or showering once or twice a day, wear deodorant and wear clean clothes. You could try wearing loose fitting clothes and go for cotton material rather than polyester or nylon.

  It's also common for your feet to smell, so again wash them regularly, change your socks every day and try not to wear the same shoes all of the time.

• My spots are getting worse, what should I do?

  Having acne or spots is very common during puberty and it can make you worried about how you look.

  Normally acne will clear as you go through puberty. There is no cure for acne, but these tips might help:

  • Wash the area with mild soap and water, but no more than twice a day.
  • Don't be tempted to squeeze spots, as it can lead to scarring.
  • Speak to a pharmacist for advice about treatments.
  • If your acne is making you feel very unhappy, see your GP.
  • Do activities which make you feel better about yourself and make you feel more confident.

• Do I need to check my body for any unusual changes?

  Most of the changes which happen to your body during puberty are completely normal, but if you notice something which you think is not right, it's important to get it checked.

  Testicular cancer is the most common form of cancer in men aged 15 to 35, so it's really important to check yourself regularly for any symptoms. Early detection and treatment will greatly help your chances of a full recovery.

  You should check yourself once a month and if you notice anything unusual - like a lump or a new mark - don't ignore it, get an appointment with your GP as soon as possible. You might find this embarrassing, but you can ask to see a male doctor if you prefer and you should remember that they are trained to deal with problems such as this.

  Testicular cancers are among the most treatable forms of cancer and have very high survival rates, but catching it early makes treatment easier.

  Click the link below for details of how to check yourself.

  How to check yourself