For a male, the physical changes of puberty usually start with the testicles getting bigger. Dark, coarse, curly hair will sprout just above the penis and on the scrotum. The penis and testes will get larger, and erections happen more often. Ejaculation — the release of sperm-containing semen —also happens.
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.
According to the National Institutes of Health, puberty usually begins in girls between 8 and 13 years of age, and in boys between 9 and 14 years of age. Puberty is considered to be early in boys before age 8 and girls before 9 years old. This is sometimes called “precocious puberty.”
But it's perfectly normal for puberty to begin at any point between the ages of 8 and 13 in girls and 9 and 14 in boys. There's not usually any need to worry if puberty does not start around the average age, but it's a good idea to speak to your GP for advice if it starts before 8 or has not started by around 14.
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.
Testicles don't normally hurt when you are growing and going through puberty. It's a really good idea to get to know what your special and unique body looks and feels like. When you know what is normal for you, it's easy to spot changes that might need to be checked out.
Delayed puberty also may occur when the testes produce too little or no hormones. This is called hypogonadism. This can occur when the testes are damaged or are not developing as they should. It can also occur if there's a problem in parts of the brain involved in puberty.
Although puberty doesn't happen at the same time for everyone, it usually starts between age 9 and 14 for boys. It also doesn't happen overnight. It's a process that takes place over several years.
There are three types of precocious puberty that may affect a child: central precocious puberty (the most common type), peripheral precocious puberty and incomplete puberty. Central precocious puberty: Central precocious puberty occurs when sex hormones are released too early.
Most teens with delayed puberty are just developing a bit later than average and will catch up. If doctors do find a problem, they might send a teen to see a pediatric endocrinologist, a doctor who specializes in treating kids and teens who have growth problems, or to another specialist for further tests or treatment.
Puberty is the process of your body developing and maturing. Your voice might get deeper, your muscles might get bigger, hair might start to grow everywhere, and you might have itchy balls and uncontrollable erections.
Changes to emotions and thinking
Boys will experience a range of emotions as they go through puberty. At times, they may feel irritable, sad, and even depressed. They may feel many different emotions related to their sexuality, including desire, confusion, and fear. Emotions start to level out by the end of puberty.
Everyone's timing is different, so some boys' voices might start to change earlier and some might start a little later. A boy's voice typically begins to change between ages 11 and 14½, usually just after the major growth spurt. Some boys' voices might change gradually, whereas others' might change quickly.
Among the signs of a growth spurt in progress: Your child may seem hungrier than usual or eat more at a sitting. Your child may nap longer than usual or sleep longer at night. Your child may be crankier or clingier than usual even though he's not ill.
An adolescent may expect to grow several inches in several months followed by a period of very slow growth, then will typically have another growth spurt.
Changes in your child's height and weight caused by increases in bone, muscle and fat are the most immediate signs that your child is experiencing a growth spurt. Other signs of a growth spurt include: Decrease or increase in appetite. Fussiness or emotional outbursts.
Hormones from the brain trigger the start of puberty. Hormones are chemical messengers that tell the body what to do. In males: The hormones tell the testicles to make the hormone testosterone and sperm. In females: The hormones tell the ovaries to make the hormone estrogen and triggers the growth and release of eggs.
The cause of precocious puberty often can't be found. Rarely, certain conditions, such as infections, hormone disorders, tumors, brain abnormalities or injuries, may cause precocious puberty. Treatment for precocious puberty typically includes medication to delay further development.
African-American and Hispanic girls tend to reach puberty earlier than their white counterparts, research shows.
Jock itch
Jock itch, also known as tinea cruris, is one of the most common causes of itchy balls. Jock itch is a fungal infection that occurs in damp areas of the body, often near or in folds of skin.
An injury can rupture or tear the tough, protective covering surrounding the testicle and damage the testicle. This is called a testicular rupture or fracture. Contusion. When an accident injures blood vessels in the testicle, it can cause a contusion, which may involve swelling, bleeding and bruising.
Enlargement of the Testicles and Scrotum
A near doubling in the size of the testicles and the scrotal sac announces the advent of puberty. As the testicles continue to grow, the skin of the scrotum darkens, enlarges, thins, hangs down from the body and becomes dotted with tiny bumps.
In the category of children with lower BMI and later onset of puberty, the spurt was all the stronger. Those whose puberty was delayed also had several extra years to grow in, and quite simply ended up taller.