Puberty and your body

When you go through puberty, you’ll usually start to grow hair under your arms, around your genitals, and on your arms and legs. If you’re physically male, you may also grow hair on your chest and face.

It's your choice whether you decide to shave your facial or body hair. If you decide you want to then we've got advice to help.

As you go through puberty you might find you sweat more. This is because your sweat glands change and produce more sweat to help control your body's temperature.

Keeping the areas that you sweat, like your armpits, clean and dry will help to stop any smell from developing. It's important to wash, bathe, or shower once or twice a day and wear clean clothes. You can also wear deodorant or antiperspirant.

If you sweat a lot, try wearing loose-fitting clothes. Cotton material will also help you to cool quicker than polyester or nylon. Change your socks regularly and wear different shoes when you can.

The changes you can expect

Your body changes shape during puberty. You’ll usually get taller, heavier, and your muscles will grow, meaning you might see differences in your arms, legs, and chest.

For most, your voice will get deeper and you might find that your hair or skin gets greasier. Some people will get spots or acne as well. If you’re worried about your acne, it can help to speak to a pharmacist for advice.

Feeling unhappy with how you look

Bodies grow at different rates during puberty, but it can be tough if you’re comparing yourself to other people.

Remember, there’s no right or wrong way for people to look, and lots of pictures online will be airbrushed or have filters to stop them from looking real. 

If you’re struggling with how you look, we've got advice to help you feel better.

If you’re a girl or physically female, the size and shape of your breasts can change a lot during puberty and you might find that your nipples become more sensitive than they were before. Breasts come in all shapes and sizes and they’re all normal. 

6 facts about breasts:

• Lots of people have one breast which is a different size or shape than the other.
• It's normal for breasts to feel sore or tender sometimes, especially just before or during your period.
• Breasts can feel heavier or softer before a period.
• Nipples come in different shapes and sizes. They can be outward or inward.
• The area around the nipple is called the areola and it's normal for it to be a few shades darker than your breast.
• Sometimes nipples have bumps, pimples, or hairs.

You can start wearing a bra whenever you want to, or whenever you feel that it might be more comfortable wearing one. It's important to get fitted for a bra in a department store or specialist bra shop to make sure you're wearing the right size. A sports bra can give more support when you’re exercising.

If you’re having sharp pains in your breast, an ache, or you notice a lump on your breast or something that doesn’t seem usual, then it’s important to speak to a doctor. You can ask to see a female doctor if that makes you feel more comfortable.

Periods

During puberty, most girls and people who are biologically female will start having periods. For lots of people, it starts around the age of 12, but it might be earlier or later than that.

Periods are part of the menstrual cycle and are a way for your body to get ready to become pregnant in the future. Your period is when you lose a small amount of blood from your vagina, and will normally last for about 3-8 days.

Some people will experience some pain, discomfort, or premenstrual syndrome (PMS) a few days before their period. We've got advice to help if you are.

Periods are safe and losing blood isn’t something to worry about, but lots of young people talk to us about them.

Discharge

Discharge is a clear, white liquid. It's completely normal and it's how your vagina keeps itself clean. If the discharge is yellow or smells, or if your private parts feel itchy, you should see your doctor as you might have an infection.

You’ll usually have thicker, or more, discharge just before your period. It might stain your underwear so you could wear panty liners if you want to ⁠— they’re in the same section as sanitary pads and tampons in supermarkets and chemists.

You might need to ask your parent or carer about money to buy sanitary products. If you feel embarrassed about choosing and buying them, it can help to ask a relative or friend to go with you.

Erections

If you’re a boy or you have a penis, you'll usually start to have erections and produce sperm during puberty. This is when your penis goes hard and stiff.

Erections can happen when you’re thinking about sex or someone you find attractive. They might also happen at times you’re not expecting, like at school or on the bus. Sometimes it might feel embarrassing, but it happens to most boys.

Sperm

Sperm are made in the testicles (sometimes called your balls) and are part of the fluid called semen that you ejaculate or cum from your penis.

Semen is usually white or grey but can sometimes appear yellowish. Semen becomes more sticky and jelly-like after ejaculation before it turns to liquid again after about 5 to 40 minutes.

What's a wet dream?

A wet dream is when you ejaculate in your sleep and release semen. This is completely normal, especially during puberty, but sometimes it can feel embarrassing or confusing.

Usually, wet dreams happen during dreams with sexual thoughts or images. Sometimes you might wake up from a wet dream, but often you'll sleep through it.