Everything You Wanted to Know about Puberty - There's More?

Guys and girls will also notice other body changes as they enter puberty, and they're all normal changes. Girls might see and feel a white, mucousy discharge from the vagina. This doesn't mean anything is wrong, it is just another sign of your changing body and hormones.

Guys will begin to get erections (this is when the penis fills with blood and becomes hard), sometimes as they fantasize and think about sexual things, or sometimes for no reason at all. They may experience something called nocturnal emissions (or wet dreams). This is when the penis becomes erect when a guy is sleeping, and he ejaculates. When a guy ejaculates, semen comes out of the penis - semen is a fluid that contains sperm. That's why they're called wet dreams - they happen when you're sleeping and your underwear of the bed might be a little wet when you wake up. Wet dreams become less frequent as guys progress through puberty, and they eventually stop. Guys will also notice that their voices may "crack" and eventually get deeper.

Change Can Feel Kind of Strange

Just as those hormones create changes in the way your body looks on the outside, they also create changes on the inside. During puberty, you might feel confused or have strong emotions that you've never experienced before. You might feel overly sensitive, or become easily upset. Some teens lose their tempers more than usual and get angry at their friends or families. You may feel anxious about how your changing body looks.

You might have new, confusing feelings about sex. You may have sexual feelings that you've never felt before. And you probably have lots of questions. When you have new adult hormones like estrogen and testosterone, it means that you have new responsibilities for what you do with your body. That's why it's important to get all those questions answered. It's easy to feel embarrassed or anxious when talking about sex, but you need to be sure you have all the right information. Some teens can talk to their parents about sex and get all the questions they have answered. But if you feel funny talking to your parents about sex, there are many other people to talk to, like your doctor, a school nurse, a teacher, a school counselor, or some other adult you feel comfortable talking with.

Sometimes it can be difficult to deal with all these new emotions. It's important to know that while your body is adjusting to all these new hormones, so is your mind. Try to remember that people usually aren't trying to hurt your feelings or upset you on purpose. It might not be your family or friends - it might be your new "puberty brain" trying to adjust. And while the adjustment can feel difficult in the beginning, it will gradually become easier. Again, if you are concerned about some of these puberty changes or feelings don't be afraid to talk with someone who can answer your questions.

Developing Differently

People are all a little different from one another, so it makes sense that they wouldn't all develop in the same way. No two people are at exactly the same stage as they go through puberty, and everyone changes at his or her own pace. Some of your friends may be getting curves, while you don't have any yet. Maybe your best friend's voice has changed, and you think you still sound like a kid with a high, squeaky voice. Or maybe you're sick of being the tallest girl in your class, or the only boy who has to shave.

But eventually everyone catches up, and the differences between you and your friends will even out. It's also good to keep in mind that there is no right or wrong way to look. That's what makes us human - we all have qualities that make us unique, on the inside and the outside.

Reviewed by: Steve Dowshen, MD
Date reviewed: June 2001