In addition to changes in height and weight that are easily observed by parents, boys at puberty should understand their own sexual maturity and development.
In boys, testicular growth generally begins around the age of 12, and the volume of the adult testicle has approached around the age of 18. Testicular development, with increased volume, is an important reflection of puberty's growth and development; From time to time, I touch my testicle with my hand, and I feel it slowly growing up.
At the same time, boys develop ejaculation after the age of 13, and the interstitial cells of the testicles begin to secrete male hormones (testosterone). They can have sexual dreams, and the penis often has an erection. As the concentration of its hormones in the plasma continues to increase, the reproductive organs further develop and mature, presenting secondary sexual characteristics such as thickened voice, prominent laryngeal nodes, dense whiskers, and axillary and pubic hair growth. The external genitalia can be frequently observed and the color of the scrotum becomes darker and larger. Generally, after the age of 9-12, the scrotum begins to increase, accompanied by reddening of the scrotum and changes in skin texture;
After the age of 12-15, the length and circumference of the penis increase, but the increase in circumference is slower than the increase in length, and the penis is elongated. After the age of 15-18, the penis and scrotum further develop and increase, the color of the scrotum is dark, the circumference of the penis becomes thicker, the hair of the penis is raised and extended forward, leaving the cover of the penis foreskin, completely or mostly exposed outside the foreskin, approaching the adult type.
The pubic hair begins to grow from puberty at about the age of 12, gradually changing from sparse and thin to dense and black, with a dense distribution. "The pubic hair is also affected by male hormones produced by the testicles and adrenal glands. As the sexual organs mature, the secretion of male hormones increases. After the age of about 18, the pubic hair of boys is distributed in a pointed triangular shape, with the tip usually reaching the lower abdomen, similar to the typical adult male pubic hair.".
During pubertal sexual development, boys should not panic when encountering the above situations. If there is no physical discomfort, they can be considered to be developing normally.
(Intern Editor: Chen Hao)