How to Tell if You Have Hit Puberty (Boys)

Last Updated: March 13, 2023 References Approved

Puberty can be a confusing time and you may be curious about all of the changes going on in your body. That’s totally normal. The truth is that everyone experiences puberty a little bit differently. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t clues you can keep an eye out for. To help you out, we’ve put together a list of a few tell-tale signs you can look for to help figure out if you’ve hit puberty.

1

Your testicles start to get bigger.

It’s usually one of the very first signs. Your testicles, also known as your balls (or nuts), are what makes things like sperm and testosterone. Testosterone is a hormone that does a whole bunch of different things, but is also one of the main things that cause puberty. As your testicles start making more sperm and testosterone, they start growing in size.^{[1]
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- You may notice your testicles getting bigger way before you start growing hair or your voice starts changing. Every person’s body is different!

2

The skin of your scrotum gets thinner.

As your testicles grow, the skin around them will start to change. Before you start puberty, the skin around your testicles, which is called your scrotum, is tight and thick. Puberty causes the skin to loosen up and get thinner so your testicles have more room to grow.^{[2]
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- Your scrotum can also get darker or take on a reddish color, which is totally normal so don’t worry if it starts happening to you.

3

Your penis gets bigger.

You may notice it starts changing and expanding. Your penis can get longer and thicker as you start puberty, but keep in mind that puberty is different for every person. So if your penis doesn’t seem to be getting larger at first, don’t stress about it. It’ll happen eventually.^{[3]
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4

You start having “wet dreams.”

They can happen as your body gets used to the changes. A wet dream happens when your body releases sperm out of your penis, which is also known as ejaculation. When you hit puberty, you can start having accidental ejaculations while you’re sleeping. Usually, it’ll stop happening eventually, but it can be a little annoying when it happens. Don’t worry. It’s normal!^{[4]
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- Unfortunately, you can’t really stop wet dreams because they happen while you’re asleep. But you can sleep with a towel nearby in case you need to clean up. If you spend the night at a friend’s house, bring an extra pair of underwear if you’re worried about having a wet dream.^{[5]
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5

You start growing pubic hair.

Look for hair starting to grow around the bottom of your penis. One of the biggest signs of hitting puberty is thick, curly hair known as pubic hair. It’ll start growing around the base or bottom of your penis and near your scrotum.^{[6]
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6

You start growing hair in your armpits, face, and on your body.

Puberty causes hair to grow in other places, too. When you hit puberty and start making more hormones like testosterone, you’ll start growing hair all sorts of places. You can start having facial hair (and may even need to start shaving), hair in your armpits, and hair in places such as your back and on your legs and arms.^{[7]
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- Some boys may have a ton of body and facial hair and others may not have hardly any at all.

7

Your voice starts cracking and gets deeper.

Puberty changes your vocal cords and the sound of your voice. One of the more awkward things that can happen when you hit puberty is your voice can start to get a little squeaky and crack every now and then. That’s because puberty causes your vocal cords to get longer and thicker, which makes your voice deeper.^{[8]
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- Usually, your voice will only crack or break for a few months before it stops making a funny noise.
- Fun fact: puberty also causes part of your neck to stick out when your vocal cords change. It’s called an Adam’s apple!

8

You start getting pimples.

Acne is (unfortunately) a completely normal part of puberty. One of the more unpleasant parts of puberty are the pimples. All of the new hormones in your body can cause your skin to produce more oil, which can clog up your pores and lead to acne. So if you notice you’re suddenly having pimples pop up on places like your face or back, it could be a sign that you’ve hit puberty.^{[10]
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- You can help reduce acne by taking care of your skin. Wash your face at least once a day and use a facial wash designed to fight acne.

9

You hit a growth spurt.

Puberty can start to change the shape of your whole body. Between the age of 10 and 16, you’ll start getting taller—sometimes really quickly! Your arms, legs, hands, and feet can sometimes grow faster than the rest of your body, but eventually, everything will even out. Growth spurts are clear signs that puberty is causing your body to change.^{[11]
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- Girls often start having growth spurts a few years earlier than boys because they usually hit puberty much earlier.

10

You start gaining weight and building muscle.

Your chest, arms, and shoulders can start getting bigger. All of the hormones that come with puberty also do other things for your body, especially ones like testosterone. Before you hit puberty, you can’t really put on a bunch of new muscle. But if you start noticing your chest, legs, back, and shoulders are getting bigger and stronger, it’s a sign that you’ve hit puberty.^{[12]
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- Some boys can suddenly put on a ton of muscle, while others may only gain a small amount of weight. Try not to compare your body to others and don’t stress about it too much. It doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with you if you don’t gain a lot of muscle for a while.

11

You might notice some swelling under your nipples.

This is called gynecomastia, and it’s totally normal. About half of all boys can develop temporary breast tissue. While it may make you uncomfortable, it’s normal and usually disappears in less than 6 months. If you do have some tenderness or swelling under your nipples, don’t worry. It just means you’ve hit puberty!^{[13]
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12

Talk to your parents if you start really early or really late.

They can make a doctor’s appointment if you need it. If you start showing signs of puberty before the age of 8 or after 14 years old, talk to your doctor about it. They’ll make sure everything is alright and there isn’t something more serious going on.
- Even if you’re over 14 and you haven’t started puberty yet, it doesn’t necessarily mean there’s something wrong with you. But your doctor can make sure and it’s better to be on the safe side.

Expert Q&A

Question

When do boys finish puberty?

David Nazarian, MD
Board Certified Internal Medicine Physician
Dr. David Nazarian is a board certified Internal Medicine Physician and the Owner of My Concierge MD, a medical practice in Beverly Hills California, specializing in concierge medicine, executive health and integrative medicine. Dr. Nazarian specializes in comprehensive physical examinations, IV Vitamin therapies, hormone replacement therapy, weight loss, platelet rich plasma therapies. He has over 16 years of medical training and facilitation and is a Diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine. He completed his B.S. in Psychology and Biology from the University of California, Los Angeles, his M.D. from the Sackler School of Medicine, and a residency at Huntington Memorial Hospital, an affiliate of the University of Southern California.

David Nazarian, MD

Board Certified Internal Medicine Physician

Expert Answer

Most boys finish growing by age 17, but there is growth that happens through their early 20s. As part of the puberty process, there's growth in regards to their high muscle build up, facial hair, and vocal tone.