Puberty

• Definition
  Puberty is when chemicals (hormones) in your glands cause your body to change. Your body develops over several years as you change from a child to an adult. Remember everyone develops at different rates so don’t worry if you think you are going through changes before or after everyone else. It can be a confusing time, but everyone goes through puberty.
• Signs
  Changes to your body
  Intense emotions
  Changing moods
  Sexual thoughts and urges
  Feeling sexually or romantically attracted to other people
  Spots or acne may appear
  Skin and hair get greasier
  
  Signs (girls)
  
  You get taller
  Your breasts get bigger
  Your hips get wider
  Hair grows under your arms and around your vagina
  Hair grows on your legs and may become darker
  Hair may grow on your top lip
  You may get spots
  You may sweat more under your arms and may smell different or stronger
  Your hair may get more greasy
  Your vagina changes and may produce a colourless or white discharge (fluid) to keep it clean and healthy
  Your periods will start at some point during puberty. A period is a bleed from the womb (uterus) that is released through the vagina. Women have a period every month. Around the time of your period each month, you may have the following symptoms, aches, headaches, tiredness, feeling dizzy or faint, sickness and/or diarrhoea.
  
  Signs (boys)
  
  You will get taller, bigger and more muscular
  Your penis and testicles (balls) will grow bigger
  You will grow hair under your armpits and around your penis and testicles (balls)
  You will grow facial hair on your cheeks, chin and upper lip
  The hair on your body will get thicker
  Your voice will get deeper
  You may start to get erections. This can happen anytime (not just when you think about sex)
  You may have wet dreams which is when you ejaculate (or ‘cum) and release sperm in your sleep
  You may get spots
  You may sweat more
  
• Advice
  Release energy and decrease stress by
  
  Getting physical: dancing, yoga and sports
  Getting creative: music, art and dance
  Sharing your feelings with someone you trust
  Spend time with your friends
  Some teens choose to masturbate to release sexual feelings, and others just wait for the feelings to pass.
  
  Don’t compare yourself to others because people start puberty at different times and they develop at different rates.
  Remember that although your feelings may seem out of control at times, changing moods are a normal part of growing up.
  Hormones can make you sweaty but showering or bathing more often and using deodorant can help.
  You might have mood swings and feel emotional, but your feelings will settle down eventually.
  
  Females
  
  If you notice discharge from your vagina, it should be colourless or white, and shouldn’t smell. If it looks green or yellow and/or it smells, see a doctor as you might have an infection.
  If you are worried or have any more questions, you can talk to someone you trust, a friend, an adult, a teacher, GP or counsellor.
• Where can i get help?
  In school you can talk to the following people:
  A friend
  Your Tutor
  A YHS Wellbeing Advisor
  Pupil Welfare Officer
  Pastoral Mentor (Drop in sessions Tuesday & Wednesday during break and lunchtime)
  
  In the community
  Talk to your parents or GP
  
  Telephone
  Childline (Free) 0800 1111
  
  Links
  Childline
  Puberty - The Signs
  Change For Life
  
  Boys
  Boys & Puberty
  
  Girls
  Girls & Puberty
  The Menstrual Cycle