Boys – my body

Boys- my body

Boys go through puberty usually between the ages of 10 and 18. Different people develop at different times and so the speed these changes happen varies from person to person. Here are some of the changes that may happen during puberty:

• Your voice gets deeper
• Your chest gets broader and muscles start to develop
• Your penis and testicles grow larger
• Hair grows on your chin and upper lip, under your arms, on your legs and around your penis
• You might get spots
• You start to sweat under your arms and between your legs
• You start to get erections when you are sexually excited and sometimes when you are not
• You might have wet dreams where you lose semen from your penis while you are asleep.

All of this is perfectly normal.

Penises and testicles

Every man looks different and so does every penis. They come in all shapes and sizes. But as far as the basics go, the penis has a shaft. This is covered by a foreskin, which is a hood of loose skin that encloses the penis. Most men have two testicles that hang outside the body, just behind the penis. The testicles are covered by the scrotum, which is a pouch of skin. It’s a good idea to regularly check your testicles for any unusual lumps or bumps. Visit the NHS website to find out how and why.

When the penis is soft the foreskin covers the head of the penis and when it’s hard (erect) the head of the penis is left uncovered. Some men have foreskin long enough to cover the head of the penis even when it’s erect. 

The foreskin is attached to the base of the head of the penis by something called a fraenulum or frenum. All men are born with a foreskin but some have part or all of the foreskin removed – leaving the head of the penis uncovered. This is done surgically for a variety of reasons and is called a circumcision. Many men often worry about the size of their penis. Adult penises come in all shapes and sizes and the size of the penis when it’s soft can vary greatly to when it’s erect.  Some men have penises that curve to the left or right – this is perfectly normal. The size of your penis doesn’t have to effect how good you are at sex.

Erections can often happen at awkward or embarrassing moments and often without warning, especially when you are a teen. This is perfectly normal and as you get older they tend to settle down.

To read some frequently asked questions about men’s tackle visit the Mens Health Forum.