Your body

All teenage boys will go through a predictable series of body changes in the transition from a boy to a fully matured man. The changes will happen in the body's own time and own speed - ready or not!

Probably a bigger surprise is the mental changes that accompany puberty. You have never felt sexually attracted towards others like you will when puberty gets a hold of your life. Other pages on this site cover that aspect of puberty.

Penis

The part of your body that a guy pees from.

Semen

The fluid that comes out your penis during ejaculation. Sperm live in this fluid (slang - cum, jizz, spooge, load, wad...)

Ejaculation

In old Latin language it meant 'a little something shot out' and refers to semen coming out of the erect penis. (slang - cum, shoot your wad, spooge, blow your load, blast, jizz, shoot, skeet, splooge, wad, fap...)

Orgasm

Intense feelings and muscle contractions associated with ejaculation. The high point of feelings during masturbation or sex.

Pubic Hair

Dark curly hair that grows on your body near your penis and testicles.

Puberty

Other names: come of age, adolescence, pubing, balls drop, puberbating, hormone bomb... and lots more.

• Other boys are developing quicker than me
• Is everything happening to me 'normal' ?
• Can I speed up the process?
• Why is my adult body hair so slow to grow?

Age	Characteristic
10	Male hormones are becoming active, but there are hardly, if any, outside signs of development. Testicles are maturing, and some boys start a period of rapid growth late in this stage.
11.5	Enlargement of the genitals, particular the scrotum, with reddening of the skin and change in skin texture. Penis hasn't grown much yet.
12.6	Appearance of breast lumps in about 30% of boys. (temporary and sometimes painful swelling of one or both breasts)
12.7	Widening of the shoulders and increase in height Fine, soft hair appears at the base of the penis (pubic hair). Lots of erections
13.5	Dark colored curled pubic hair appears around the base of the penis. Penis gets longer but not much thicker. Penis skin becomes darker in color.
13.6	Testicles and scrotum still growing. Early voice change - deepening ('cracking of the voice').
13.7	First ejaculation of semen from the penis.
14.2	Penis width increases, as well as length. Testicles and scrotum still growing. Pubic hair begins to take adult texture, although covers a smaller area.
14.5	Period of rapid growth (growth spurt). Body/face shape look more adult.
14.9	Hair develops under the armpits. Sweat glands develop with a new odor. Pimples sometimes appear on the face.
15	Facial hair increases on chin and upper lip. Voice gets deeper and skin gets more oily. Testicles and scrotum still growing.
15.9	Maximum growth of pubic hair, spread in a tight diamond shaped pattern. Hair grows on the legs.
16	Nearing full adult height and physique. Pubic hair and genitals have adult appearance. Facial hair grows more completely and shaving may begin now or soon.
19	Mature body shape. Receding of the hair line on the sides of the forehead to form wedge pattern.
20	Some men grow a bit more and develop more body hair, especially chest hair.
22	Complete sexual maturity.
25	Brain pre-frontal cortex developed. Brain now makes rational and not just emotional decisions.

The ages given are averages and shouldn't be relied on too much. For example, the average age of a boy's first ejaculation is given as 13.7 years, but this could range from 9 years old to 18 years old as two extremes and all the other stages would adjust accordingly.

The order of events is an average also and individuals may differ in some areas. For example, you may experience ejaculation before any pubic hair has grown although the chart says the opposite. Take comfort though, that all of the events will happen in their own timing and generally in the order shown in the table. You will end up as a physically complete man.

The extra hair on your body as an adult male serves several functions. It signals sexual maturity - that your body is capable of sexual reproduction. It also adds to the physical sensations when you have sex with another person. Finally, the hair in the groin and armpits gives off an oily substance which contributes to personal body odor. That same mechanism contributes to the bonding that occurs when two people have sex - the scent of the other person becomes imprinted in the brain alongside the pleasurable feelings of the sex act in a strong mental association that is difficult to break (Bible calls it 'the two become one flesh').

Many boys find they become easily embarrassed when others notice the physical changes taking place in their body. If someone, for example, notices and comments on the hair growing in the armpits, then a lot of boys become very self conscious and try to hide the obvious changes taking place.

You will get used to the changes fairly quickly.

Nothing seems to attack a teenage boy's sense of well being and self esteem as much as being delayed in their physical development in relation to their friends. This is especially true if boys are required to shower together after sport (typical in the US education system). Those present, while the same age, can range from fully developed men to boys who have barely started the physical changes of puberty. It is little comfort to the late developer to know his maturity is going to happen in its own time and own pace. This boy is mostly in mental torment over his body.

What can be done?

Make sure you eat a balanced diet that includes the foods that give you the mineral zinc. A deficiency in the mineral zinc has been linked to delayed growth and delayed sexual development in teenage boys.

Foods that have zinc: Cheese; meat; wholemeal bread; fish/shellfish; mung beans; lentils; milk; pumpkin seeds; sunflower seeds.

You could take zinc tablets obtainable from a supermarket or health food store. Recommended zinc intake - 15mg/day. Don't go above this amount or you'll cause more problems than you solve. Check with your doctor. Relax - zinc is not a drug - it is a naturally occurring mineral that appears to be lacking in western diets.

Finally, have a physical checkup with your doctor to make sure all is well with your body if you are worried about delayed puberty.

I acknowledge and thank the boy who allowed the world into his personal space to contribute this information and photos. He understands it may help put other young minds at ease.