When Do Boys Hit Puberty?

Puberty, which typically hits boys between the age of 9 and 14, occurs as they begin to move into adulthood. Not only are physical changes happening, but the emotional side of puberty can also be difficult to navigate.

Biologically it’s a chain reaction of hormones that begins in the brain’s hypothalamus and triggers additional hormones to be released in the pituitary gland, which then travel to the testes. There, testosterone is released and puberty begins. Emotionally, puberty is a whirlwind of thoughts, feelings, frustration, and highs and lows that no matter how prepared, can still throw both caregiver and child for a loop.

Strong body odor aside, you’ll also likely first notice growth spurts and voice changes in your child. He may suddenly seem long and lanky, prone to clumsiness as his feet and hands are growing larger and faster than the rest of his body. Upon reaching the end of puberty, your son may grow up to a foot taller and have gained up to 40 pounds. Other signs of puberty in boys include:

• Jaw and facial features change
• Voice begins to crack and change
• Loss of baby weight
• Broad shoulders may develop
• Body hair will grow and thicken
• Muscles may grow or become more defined
• Gynaecomastia (breast tissue enlargement) occurs but then tapers off
• Testosterone level increases may cause nocturnal emissions

So, when do boys hit puberty? All children are different so for some, changes may occur later than others or not at all. Experiences will vary, which is why it’s important to keep the lines of communication with your child open.

Meredith Masony is a parenting blogger and mom of three who uses humor to work through the ups and downs of real life with kids. She says that puberty can be scary and awkward for kids and parents, but it doesn’t have to be. Conversations can occur over time, at your child’s pace and comfort level.

“Use a little empathy, we’ve all been there, right, because we’ve already gone through puberty. So now you just basically break it down; it’s not a talk, it’s a series of talks,” Masony told Fox4 News. “So you don’t want to bombard them, you just give them some time to ask questions.”

“There’s tons of stuff that can help parents out there, there’s resources all over the place and one of them is actually PBS for Parents and Amaze which has videos, and talking prompts, and just fantastic animated series to really walk you through this with them,” Masony advised.

Puberty that does not occur during the expected time frame, typically before the age of 14 for boys, is known as delayed or late puberty. While there is no known cause, it’s possible that delayed puberty is hereditary. A number of factors can contribute to late puberty, such as thyroid or pituitary gland issues, extensive exercise, hormone fluctuations, chronic illness, genetic disorders, or chromosomal problems.

Boys who experience a lack of testicular growth or pubic hair development could be experiencing delayed puberty, but an accurate diagnosis can be obtained through diagnostic testing such as MRI, CT scans, or blood tests. Dr. Diane Stafford works in the endocrinology division at Boston Children’s Hospital and helps parents and children navigate puberty issues and concerns.

“I do a lot of counseling with families,” Stafford told US News & World Report. “My job, first of all, is to determine whether there’s pathology. And whether there’s a problem that we need to deal with that is causing early or delayed puberty.”

Treatment for delayed puberty depends on what is causing it. If hereditary, those cases are generally left to progress on their own. A child will eventually begin to develop. However, in the event of delayed puberty, hormone therapy may be a viable treatment option.

It is also important to recognize the difference between delayed puberty and the suppression of puberty. Generally prescribed to children experiencing gender dysphoria, puberty blockers can temporarily stop physical development. They can also be used to treat premature puberty in very young children.