Changes That Happen to Everyone
Look out for hair growth. One of puberty's clearest indicators is when you start getting hairs in unexpected places. For people assigned male at birth, it is likely to include facial hair, underarm hair, more hair on the legs and chest, and pubic hair. People assigned female at birth are likely to spot hair growth on the underarms and in the pubic area.
Look for acne. Acne is a common adolescence symptom which is caused by increased secretion of oils and grease in the pores, and bacteria infecting them. If you've got acne, you're almost certainly going through puberty.
Think about your growth and energy. You may find that it took you a year to manage a couple of inches before, you're gaining inches in height faster than you can count them! If this is you, and you're 10-13, you've probably started puberty. If your appetite suddenly takes a leap like never before, that's a sign of puberty, too.
Look out for signs of more sweating. It may sound gross, and it's true - the smell is hardly appealing. If you find you get stronger-smelling sweat and more of it, even when you're not actually hot, you've probably started puberty. Ask your parents to get you some deodorant. It might be awkward to ask at first, but you and those around you will appreciate it in the long run.
Female Puberty
Consider breast growth. Your breasts may be tender and may hurt. Please tell a trusted adult about this so you can buy a supportive bra if needed for better support.
Look out for your period. The clearest sign of the onset of female puberty is the first period. It is likely to be irregular at first, but your periods will settle into a more regular pattern. This shows almost certainty that you are going through puberty. If you suspect you’re about to get your period, stock up on pads or tampons and bring them with you when you go out.
Check for vaginal discharge. Before you start getting periods, you may start seeing vaginal discharge, which is a substance that's usually white or slightly yellow in color. These often start happening some time before your first period, but some people don't get them until after they've started their periods.
Male Puberty
Consider testicle growth. One of the first signs of male puberty is that your testicles start to grow. This is often hard to spot.
Consider penile growth. A year after your testicles start to grow, your penis will start growing longer and wider. This is normal.
Check for erections. During puberty, you start getting erections. This means that your penis will sometimes randomly become longer, harder, and start standing out. Don't worry; it will go away.
Emotional Changes
Consider how you feel about yourself. You may suddenly feel all self-conscious. Everybody seems to be looking at you, and you don't like standing up in front of a large number of people any more. If you're finding you suddenly have these sorts of problems, you're probably starting puberty.
Consider your feelings towards others. You find that you start to have feelings of attraction for other people, and you may start to be interested in romance, dating, and sexual activity (at least in theory, even if it's too early in practice). If this sounds like you, you've probably started puberty.
Monitor your emotions. If you find that you get unbelievably happy, and intensely angry, and grief-stricken and you don't really know why, you've probably got hormone rushes, which are a symptom of puberty. People going through male puberty especially can get very angry and not understand why.
Keep an open mind. It is a common pre-adolescent thing to begin watching so intently for the onset of puberty that they see signs that haven't really manifested themselves yet. Start out by clearing away the idea that you MUST have already started on puberty.
Talk to your parents! If you see any or all of these signs in you, it's time to talk to mom and dad. It may seem hard at first, but in puberty, communication is the key to avoid going off the rails. Parents have been there before, so they'll be able to help you out!
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