Puberty What's Going on?

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PUBERTY PUBERTY

, what s going on? a guide to the amazing changes that happen as you grow up!

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PUBERTY IS... ... When you start to change from being a child to being an adult or grown-up.

It doesn’t all happen at once; it can take time, up to about two years.

It happens to people at different ages too. It can start any time between the ages of 9 and 17.

Every body is different, so don’t think you’re ‘not normal’ if things aren’t the same for you and your friends.

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Remember...

● All the adults you know have been through it (even Grans and Grampas – ages ago!). ● The people in your year group are all going through roughly the same changes as you are. ● We all get there in the end, but DON’T BE AFRAID TO ASK if you’re worried or if you want information.

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FEELINGS Some changes in puberty are the same for boys and girls. Puberty is kick-started by a surge in hormones that give messages to bits of the body to change and grow. These hormones can make you FEEL different too: you may feel more angry, more excited, more moody, more upset, more tearful. It can be strange as your feelings jump from one to another quickly, but it’s normal and it may help to talk to people you trust about how you feel.

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Another change is that you may start to fancy other people. You might have feelings for people of the opposite sex (boys fancying girls…girls fancying boys) or you might have feelings for people of the same sex (girls fancying girls…boys fancying boys). This is normal, and is due to the chemicals rushing around your body, telling it to grow up.

How you feel as you start and go through puberty isn,t how you’ll always feel; some attractions change as you grow older. You should remember that there’s no such thing as ‘normal’, and to trust in how you feel, as long as it’s not hurting anyone else. If you’re worried or confused, it can help to talk to someone. If you don’t want to talk to someone you know, there are confidential helplines you can phone. Some numbers are at the back of this leaflet.

Some changes only happen to girls, and some happen only to boys. Here,s a bit more info on those

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Girl talk These are things that can happen at some point over the next few years:

❀ You,ll grow taller

❀ Your body will get wider, especially your hips ❀ You may sweat more and it may smell stronger ❀ Your skin may get more greasy and you might get spots (so make sure you wash every day) ❀ Your hair may get more greasy (wash it often) ❀ Your breasts start to grow ❀ Hair starts to grow under your arms, on your legs and between your legs (the pubic area) ❀ Your periods start

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PERIODS/MENSTRUATION Girls start menstruation any time between 9 and 17. This means your periods start coming; they might be irregular at first (you don’t know when they’re going to come, or how long will be between one and the next), but they usually settle down and last 3-7 days, and come every 28 days (roughly every month).

WHY? Your body is ready to have a baby when your periods start (although we’re not ready to take care of a baby when we,re that young).

WHAT,S GOING ON INSIDE? Eggs start to be produced inside your body every month. If one of these tiny eggs was fertilised by a man’s semen, it would start to grow as a baby. Most months, then, the egg isn’t needed and comes out of your body, with the lining of your womb (or uterus), as blood. It leaks out slowly, sometimes a bit heavier than at other times. On average, it’s only about half a cupful altogether.

DOES IT HURT? This is different for different people. Some girls and women, before or during their period, have pain in their stomach or back, some feel sick or a little weak at times. Others can hardly

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tell it’s coming or is there. Ask if you think there’s something wrong with you, and you’ll probably find lots of girls older than you have had the same thought.

HOW DO WE DEAL WITH IT? Girls can use sanitary towels (or ‘pads’, like Always, Kotex or Bodyform)in their knickers, to soak the blood up. Older girls might use tampons (such as Tampax or Li-lets), which are used inside the body to soak up the blood before it comes out. You should read instructions on the packets or ask for advice, to make sure you understand what you,re doing, and you need to change pads and tampons regularly.

WILL IT SPOIL MY FUN? You should be able to carry on doing anything you feel like doing. You may not feel like going swimming for example, on the first day or two when it might be a bit heavier, but having your period definitely doesn,t mean you shouldn,t have a bath! In fact, you should make sure you wash or bath every day, especially when you’re on (your period), to stay fresh.

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BOYS’ ZONE These are things that can happen at some point over the next few years: ★ You’ll grow taller ★ Your body will get broader ★ You may sweat more and it will smell stronger ★ Your skin may get more greasy and you might get spots (so make sure you wash every day) ★ Your hair may get more greasy (wash it often) ★ Your voice starts to get deeper (‘break’) ★ Hair starts to grow under your arms, on your legs, in the pubic area around the base of your penis, on your face and sometimes on your chest ★ Your penis and testicles get gradually bigger

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Some Words Explained HORMONES – around puberty, your body starts to produce these chemicals which send messages to tell parts of your body to grow or change.

GENITALS – for boys, the penis and testicles. For girls, the area around the vagina ERECTION – when the penis gets harder. If a boy gets sexually aroused (turned on), the tiny vessels in the penis fill with blood. It gets thicker and longer and sticks out from the body. This happens so that the penis can enter a vagina in order to make a baby. Sometimes the penis can get erect when you’re not feeling sexual. Remember, your body’s getting used to the changes, and getting ready to be a grown-up.

MASTURBATION – is when you rub or touch your genitals because it feels nice. It can lead to orgasm, when an excited feeling builds up to a peak, and then a feeling of release. Most people do it, in private. It’s quite normal, it can’t harm you, and it can help you get to know your body and what you like.

EJACULATION (coming) – when semen comes out of the end of the penis. The reason for this is so that, during sex, the man’s seed can get inside the woman to meet with her egg, to make a baby. Ejaculation can happen as a result of masturbation, or can happen in your sleep. This is known as a wet dream; we can’t control them and they’re quite normal. (You can’t come and wee at the same time!)

SEMEN – this is the milky liquid that comes out of the penis when boys ejaculate. It contains sperm, which can fertilise a woman’s egg to make a baby.

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AM I NORMAL???

These changes are general and can happen to people at different ages. You shouldn’t worry that you’re not the same as everyone else – it’s a good job, cos it’s great that everybody’s different.

If you think something’s wrong with your body, try to talk to somebody about it, and you’ll probably find out it’s a quite normal change.

It’s good to get to know your body so you notice the changes and get used to them. Look at it, use a mirror to look at tucked away bits. It’s your very own to look after and make the most of.

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Feed your body well – eat plenty of fruit and vegetables and not too many sweet or greasy foods, and drink lots of water. Exercise every day if you can – walking is a brilliant exercise; it can fit in with the rest of your busy life, you see the world up close and it’s sociable – you can do it with friends and you see other people.

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Sometimes, watching TV and reading magazines can make you believe that everybody’s supposed to be perfect, thin, gorgeous, blah blah blah!!

DON’T BELIEVE IT! That’s not real life. Look around you when you go to town – that’s real life, and you’ll see that people come in all shapes and sizes. It’s good to feel fit and healthy, but don’t try to look like anyone else. You’re you – and that’s cool!

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Body Bits Let’s have a closer look at the genital areas. (For boys, the penis and testicles.

For girls, the area around the vagina.) pubic hair clitoris (a sensitive bump)

urethra (wee hole)

vagina

pubic hair

bladder

penis (willy) urethra (wee tube)

testicles scrotum

(balls)

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Got Questions?

This is the start of your life as a young adult.

Being grown up means you’re allowed to do more things, but it also means being more responsible for looking after yourself. But that comes over time, it certainly doesn’t mean you’re on your own!!!

It’s important that you understand what’s happening to you, and why. If you’re still not sure about something you’ve read about here, ask parents, carers, a teacher or somebody older that you trust.

Be nice to those around you, don’t tease or pick on people because they’re different; everyone’s going through big changes.

Talk to your parents, carers, or somebody older you can trust (like a big brother / sister / aunt / grandparent) if you’re worried, unsure, or just want to tell them how you’re feeling

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Useful Contacts Childline – 24 hour helpline for young people with any problem - 0800 1111 Fpa UK – Sexual Health Direct Helpline - 0845 122 8690 Infonation – a call-in centre with lots of information about further services – The Kingsway, Swansea – Phone 01792 484010 or Text 07930 328607 www.cliconline.co.uk – an information website for young people, including health information www.teenagehealthfreak.org – advice to young people on health matters www.dr-ann.org – a virtual surgery, where young people post their questions and concerns Remember, there’s probably nothing you’re worried about or want to ask about that hasn’t been asked before!

Swansea Public Health Team, Kidwelly House, Charter Court, Phoenix Way, Llansamlet, Swansea SA7 9FS Tel: 01792 784858