Puberty in Boys- Signs, Causes and How To Handle

Understanding puberty in boys is not a cakewalk. The hormonal shifts lead to body image issues and your little man can turn moody and irritated too soon. They may also show a stronger desire for independence as if trying to establish their identity in this world.

During puberty, your little boy undergoes physical and emotional growth. The transition from a child toa teenager will get smoother with your unconditional acceptance. As parents, you need to set clear limits and help them wade through the emotional challenges that this developmental phase brings in.

When Does Puberty Occur in Boys?

Puberty does not happen at the same time for all boys. This is because puberty is not a single event in one’s life. It involves a series of maturational milestones before it sets in fully. Likewise, the rate or speed at which boys attain puberty varies. Boys can start showing signs of puberty as early as 9 years or as late as 14 or 15 years (1). Once it begins, most boys finish their development in 2 to 5 years. Increased androgen hormones may lead to irritability, mood swings, and restless behavior in boys (2).

First Signs and Symptoms of Puberty in Males

The first signs of puberty are mostly physiological as apparent changes happen outwardly. Their shoulders get broad, height increases, and muscles grow in size. Internally, reproductive organs start developing (3). The penis and testis enlarge and pubic hair starts growing. Most boys feel overwhelmed with these sudden changes.

These changes mark the beginning of hormonal changes going on internally. In boys, the initial signs of puberty appears to be like –

• The scrotum and testis enlarge
• Penis continues to grow
• Erections become pronounced
• Pubic hair slowly becomes coarse and dark and spreads
• Boys may find that their legs and arms are growing longer
• Oily skin seem to bother them
• Voice cracks initially till boys attain an adult vocal tone

What Causes Puberty in Boys?

Hormones control puberty. The hormones, which play a vital role in attaining puberty, are made in the brain and in the testicles. To start with, the hypothalamus releases GnRH which reaches the pituitary gland as a result of which two essential hormones are produced called the-

• Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
• Luteinizing hormone (LH)

These two hormones are present even prior to puberty but when the hypothalamus activates the pituitary gland, they are produced in bigger amounts.

FSH, on reaching the testes, leads to the development of seminiferous tubules. These are small tubes present in the testes where sperms are produced. After the formation of these tubules, the body starts to produce sperms (4).

LH stimulates the cells inside the testes to produce androgen. These cells are known as the Leydig cells. A man’s reproduction ability is influenced by the hormone androgens. There are different types of androgens. Among them, testosterone is the key androgen. All these hormonal changes bring about physical and emotional changes in boys during puberty.

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Physical Changes That Occur During Puberty in Boys

When boys begin puberty, there will be changes in several areas of their body. Some of the prominent changes that occur in boys during puberty are-

• Testicles and penis start to become bigger
• You will notice that your son will gain height in a very short span of time
• He will become more muscular as muscle tissues start to form
• Your boy’s shoulders will become broader
• Hair will start to develop in areas like under arms, chest, face, arms, and legs
• His voice will start to crack and get huskier
• Swelling and tenderness will appear underneath nipples, which eventually fades away
• He will sweat more as more sweat glands are produced during this period and as a result of this, body odor will develop. Hormonal shifts cause oily skin and excessive sweating (5)
• Boys will start to break out during this phase. You will notice pimples appearing on his face, mostly on his forehead. Boys of 9-15 years of age are prone to develop acne because of hormonal changes in their body (6)
• When boys reach puberty, they will start to notice erections occurring more often. This is perfectly normal and can happen anytime even during sleep (7)
• Wet dreams will also occur in boys. This is the time when the body will start making more testosterone. Puberty prepares a boy’s body for reproduction
• Towards the last phase of puberty, the rate of growth slows down. Your son will reach his adult height and his genitals will reach their adult size. Darker, coarser, and curlier hair growth will appear in the pubic area.

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Emotional Changes That Occur During Puberty in Boys

Puberty not only brings about physical changes in boys but it also impacts their thoughts and feelings. You will notice the following emotional changes in your little man.

• Mood Swings: Boys often go through mood swings during puberty. They might feel upbeat and jovial one moment and may get extremely irritated the very next second. This happens due to increased testosterone in the body (8)
• Issues With Self-confidence: A lot of boys feel uncomfortable about the physical changes happening in their body which creates problems with their self-confidence. They could face bullying and teasing from peers that is enough to create low self-esteem and negative body image issues in young male teenagers (9)
• Develops Strong Crushes: Every boy has his own set of likes and dislikes. And during puberty, some boys get very friendly with girls while others might just get nervous about talking to girls. Sex hormones start developing during puberty so it is a normal process to like someone or have a crush on some girl during this phase. Research studies indicate that about 50% adolescent boys offer feelings of love and romance and have experienced romantic dates by 15 years (10).

How to Manage The Emotional And Physical Changes During Puberty?

Boys experience considerable confusing and startling changes during puberty. Although it is a natural part of growing up, he will need a lot of emotional support and understanding from his family members.

• Insist Your Son to Catch Enough Sleep: During the puberty phase it is imperative that boys get enough sleep. Therefore, urge your son to stop watching TV or playing with gadgets till late in the night. Make sure he is getting at least 9 hours sleep per day
• Nutritious Food: During his growing up phase, your son will get hungry more frequently. This is the phase when they fall prey to junk foods. Therefore, urge him to have proper home cooked nutritious food as balanced diet plays a significant role in managing the physical and emotional changes during puberty
• Exercise: Making exercises a part of life during this phase helps not only in developing a good physique but also to get rid of muscle pains that can occur during this period. Studies have found that boys who do regular physical exercise in their teenage years develop good bone health by 18 years (11)
• More Outdoor Activities: Persuade your kid to engage in more outdoor activities like swimming, playing, cycling, etc. than spending more time playing indoor video games or watching movies
• Monitor Your Kid Closely Without His Knowledge: This is a very delicate phase. Your son may have a lot of pressure from his peers and friends. These days’ kids have access to a lot of information online. So ensure that you are closely monitoring your son and his activities during this time. Closely watch the sites he is surfing, channels he is watching, and the type of video games he is playing. But make sure you are doing all this without his knowledge

How to Encourage Your Son to Stop Feeling Embarrassed About His Body?

Puberty is both an exciting as well as awkward time for boys. There may be times when your son might start feeling embarrassed about the changes happening in his body. It is imperative that you regularly talk to your son about these changes and explain to him that these are temporary changes and a part of growing up and everyone goes through this phase.

Tell him that the cracks in his voice won’t last forever and his body will reach a steady shape and size soon. Try to answer all his queries related to growth and development taking place in his body so that he feels confident about his body and stops getting embarrassed about the temporary changes happening during puberty.

Puberty in boys brings rapid growth spurts that can be both physically taxing and mentally annoying. Boys experience heightened self-awareness. They may become isolated and suffer from an identity crisis. Thus, as a parent, you have a big role to play here. You need to educate and support them in every small way. Be compassionate and listen to their worries and woes whenever required. In this way, your little young man feels heard and accepted the way they are. It can boost them mentally, and help them develop a positive self-image.

FAQ’s

1. How Can Parents Support Their Sons During Puberty?

Parents can aid sons in puberty by showing understanding, patience, and assurance. Listening, fostering positive body image, and self-esteem are crucial.

2. What Role do Hormones Play in Puberty For Boys?

Hormones are the game-changers during puberty years. It causes rapid physical growth along with tons of tumultuous emotions to deal with. Testosterone is responsible for increased weight and height, and also causes feelings of irritability and unstable mood.

3. What is Gynecomastia And is it Common During Puberty?

Gynecomastia is the enlargement of the breasts in boys and males. Imbalance between estrogen and testosterone hormones can cause this problem. It is quite common and mostly resolves on its own as the boy steps adulthood.

4. Can Puberty Cause Sleep Changes in Boys?

Yes, sometimes puberty can cause sleep issues in boys. The hormonal fluctuations can lead to difficulty in falling asleep, or increased sleepiness during waking hours. Moreover, insufficient sleep causes fatigue and mood swings.

References

1. Review of the Literature on Current Changes in the Timing of Pubertal Development and the Incomplete Forms of Early Puberty – [https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fped.2019.00147/full]
2. Early puberty hormones increase emotional and behavioural issues in boys – [https://www.mcri.edu.au/news-stories/early-puberty-hormones-increase-emotional-and-behavioural-issues-in-boys]
3. Physiology, Puberty – [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK534827/]
4. Hormonal changes throughout puberty in boys: an observational study on the treatment outcome of congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism – [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8812648/]
5. Pubertal induction of sweat gland activity – [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6454525/]
6. Acne vulgaris in early adolescent boys. Correlations with pubertal maturation and age – [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1825016/]
7. Physical Development in Boys: What to Expect – [https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/gradeschool/puberty/Pages/Physical-Development-Boys-What-to-Expect.aspx]
8. Testosterone and Its Effects on Human Male Adolescent Mood and Behavior: A Systematic Review – [https://www.jahonline.org/article/S1054-139X(14)00225-0/fulltext]
9. Body Image During Puberty: What Happens to How Kids Feel About Their Bodies? – [https://kids.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frym.2024.1178387]
10. Young Love: Romantic Concerns and Associated Mental Health Issues among Adolescent Help-Seekers – [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4931381/]
11. Physical Activity in Puberty Is Associated with Total Body and Femoral Neck Bone Mineral Characteristics in Males at 18 Years of Age – [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6572272/]

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