Your brain also goes through changes at this time that affect your emotions and behaviours. Puberty happens because of natural substances in your body called hormones. For boys, puberty begins around 11 to 13 years of age, and will last for several years.
In boys, the first puberty change is the enlargement of the scrotum and testes. At this point, the penis does not enlarge. As the testes and scrotum continue to grow, the penis grows. The first growth of pubic hair produces long, soft hair that is only in a small area around the genitals.
It can start as early as age 9. Puberty is a process that takes place for several years. Most girls finish puberty by age 14. Most boys finish puberty by age 15 or 16.
Boys tend to show the first physical changes of puberty between the ages of 10 and 16. They tend to grow most quickly between ages 12 and 15. The growth spurt of boys is, on average, about 2 years later than that of girls. By age 16, most boys have stopped growing, but their muscles will continue to develop.
The term “late bloomer” refers to a child who goes through puberty later than their peers. Constitutional growth delay, the medical term for this condition, runs in families. Late bloomers will catch up on their growth and have standard adult height, although it may take a little extra time and patience.
This surge of hormones, which marks the end of childhood and the onset of adolescence, typically begins by 9–10 years of age in girls and by 10–12 years of age in boys. Thus, the effects these hormones have on developing bodies and brains (and behavior) are usually beginning well before the teens.
You can help your child by being informed, providing reassurance, role-modelling body acceptance and a healthy lifestyle, and respecting your young person's need for more privacy. Take practical steps to support your young person through their bodily changes. Look after your own needs too.
Causes of early puberty in boys are similar to girls, and include thyroid disorders, abnormal brain structure, exposure to radiation therapy, and certain genetic conditions. It may also be caused by tumors of the brain, testis, liver, and/or adrenal glands.
Early puberty puts children at an increased risk for emotional and mental health issues, such as anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and poor body image or body dysmorphia.
High protein intake elevates IGF-1 levels and promotes growth, which could accelerate the onset of puberty. Poor diet. Children with lower-nutrient diets tend to enter puberty earlier. A diet rich in processed foods and meats, dairy, and fast food is disruptive to normal physical development.
Children with precocious puberty may grow quickly at first and be tall, compared with their peers. But, because their bones mature more quickly than normal, they often stop growing earlier than usual. This can cause them to be shorter than average as adults.
By the time a young person reaches their early 20s, the release of sex hormones has slowed down and the mental and physical changes associated with puberty are complete.
Although testosterone levels fall as men age, the decline is steady at about 1% a year from around the age of 30 to 40, and this is unlikely to cause any problems in itself.
While the entire process takes several years, there are five stages of puberty that children assigned males at birth go through. Puberty tends to begin later for males than females, and typically starts between age 9 and 14.
Most cases of delayed puberty are not an actual health problem. Some kids just develop later than others - what we call a “late bloomer.” This has a medical name: “Constitutional Delay of Growth and Puberty.” In many of these cases, late puberty runs in the family.
Delayed puberty is when boys have little to no genital growth by age 14, or girls have no breast development by age 13, or no periods by age 16. You may also hear this called being a “late bloomer”. Delayed puberty may happen in children who have chronic medical conditions.
The most common cause of delayed puberty is a functional delay in production of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) from the hypothalamic neuronal networks that initiate the episodic or pulsatile release of the GnRH and activate the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis.
Adolescence brings a period of quite intense interacting physical, emotional, social and cognitive (thinking) changes. The release of hormones is responsible for the physical changes and, in boys, increased levels of testosterone can contribute to greater anger and aggression.
African-American and Hispanic girls tend to reach puberty earlier than their white counterparts, research shows. Editor's Note: Former CNN correspondent Pat Etheridge is a journalist specializing in children's health and family issues.
The most direct causes are inadequate nutrition (not eating enough or eating foods that lack growth-promoting nutrients) and recurrent infections or chronic or diseases which cause poor nutrient intake, absorption or utilization. Then there is the lack of care and stimulation for development…