Tell if You Have Started Puberty

Puberty's tough going, but understanding it is the key to dealing with it. One of the biggest questions every pre-adolescent asks is, "Have I started yet?" If you are experiencing some of the things below, then chances are you have started puberty.

Steps

  1. 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.
  2. Look out for hair growth. Hairs, hairs everywhere... One of puberty's clearest indicators is when you start getting hairs in unexpected places. For boys, it is likely to include facial hair, underarm hair, more hair on the legs and chest, and pubic hair. Girls are likely to spot hair growth on the underarms and in the pubic area.
  3. Consider breast growth, for girls. 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.
  4. Look out for your period. For girls, the best sign of the onset of 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.
    • 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 girls don't get them until after they've started their periods.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. 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 it's never leapt before, that's a sign of puberty, too.
  9. 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. Boys especially can get very angry and not understand why.
  10. 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.
  11. 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!

Tips

  • You can get childhood crushes without puberty, so don't assume that because you've had a crush means you're going through puberty.
  • If you're sweating a lot, it's probably a good idea to invest in some deodorant - Smelly people aren't popular people!
  • Don't let your peers get you wound up about puberty. Try reading 'Avoid Being Misguided About Puberty By Your Peers' or other related wikiHows, if you've started on this rocky road.
  • Puberty is scary, so it really can't be stressed enough how important it is that you talk to your parents about it.
  • Ask your parents for a puberty book. This should have the lowdown on many more puberty-related questions.
  • If your parents are bugging you about puberty, take a deep breath and talk to them.
  • Don't be afraid to tell them about it. They have been there and done that. They should understand and agree that you are growing up.
  • Try not to be afraid to share all of this with your parents if it's happening to you.

Warnings

  • There is a lot of misinformation out there! Be on your guard, especially if you're searching the Internet for information. A book is probably your safer bet.
  • It is probably safer to talk to the parent of the same sex as you, as they have experienced exactly what you are experiencing. Or talk to both parents at the same time. If not, you will most likely be confused and misguided.
  • Don't let your anger get the better of you! You could only end up losing friends. Talk to your parents if you feel like you're losing control.

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