Changes During Puberty for Boys and Girls
What
is puberty?
Growing
up. Everyone goes through the same process. Whether you start at age 9
or at age 15, it’s all “normal.’’ You are still you inside. Your body and feelings are
changing at their own pace. Growing up can be a great experience: a time of changing and
finding out who you are. Hormones are responsible for the changes you are beginning to
notice. In boys, testosterone is the hormone. In girls, it's estrogen. Girls may start
normal puberty as early as age 7 or not start at all until age 15. For boys it is usually
anywhere between ages 9 and 15.
Girls
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At 12, you may have a young girl's body or begin to look like a woman.
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At 15, you'll see less difference between you and your friends.
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At 18, you'll pretty much have your adult body.
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Breasts come in all shapes and sizes. Some girls’ breasts grow early; others grow late. Most girls have one breast that grows faster than the other. Breast growth will be the first sign that puberty has started.
Boys
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At 12, you'll probably still have a young boy's body.
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At 15, you might look like a child or a young man: either one is normal.
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At 18, you'll see less difference between you and your friends.
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An erection is the swelling and stiffening of your penis. Erections don’t only happen in sexual situations. It’s also normal to get a “hard on’’ just from your pants rubbing against you.