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Teen Guys Quiz: Test Your Puberty IQ

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In guys, puberty usually begins between what ages?

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In guys, puberty usually begins between what ages?

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It's usually between 10 and 14. If sexual growth and development start before 9, it's called "precocious" or early; if there are no signs of puberty by 14, it's called "delayed."

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Which sign of puberty usually happens first in guys?

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Which sign of puberty usually happens first in guys?

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Usually, the first sign of puberty is your testes get bigger at about age 11 or 12. You get pubic hair at about 12, and your penis starts getting bigger at around 13. At 13 or 14, guys' voices begin to change, your muscles get bigger, and you start to grow underarm hair. About the same time, there's a growth spurt. Finally, at about 15 or 16, most guys begin to get facial hair. But everyone's different, so some guys go through these stages slightly earlier and some go through them later.

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Acne during puberty is worse in guys than girls.

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Acne during puberty is worse in guys than girls.

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Acne is a normal part of puberty. The body produces hormones that make your face more oily, and that causes pimples. Oil glands in the face are usually more active in guys than girls, so your acne can be worse.

 

You can't stop it from happening, but you can cut down on breakouts by washing your face twice a day; tougher cases may need over-the-counter or prescription medication.

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Guys' breasts may grow during puberty.

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Guys' breasts may grow during puberty.

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Guys' breasts may grow during puberty. It’s caused by hormones and usually goes away on its own. Also, your nipples may be sore or temporarily swollen.

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How many inches a year do guys grow during puberty?

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How many inches a year do guys grow during puberty?

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The growth spurt for guys happens about two years after puberty starts. You'll grow an average of about 4 inches a year. The legs grow first, before your body. Your hands and feet grow before your arms and legs get longer. A burst in shoe size is a sign the growth spurt is about to start. About 25% of your lifetime growth in height happens during puberty.

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You need more sleep after puberty starts.

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You need more sleep after puberty starts.

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Both guys and girls need more sleep during puberty -- a little more than 9 hours every night. Even though you need more sleep, teens often get less than they did as kids.

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How much later does puberty start in guys than in girls?

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How much later does puberty start in guys than in girls?

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Puberty usually starts about one year later in guys than in girls. Getting taller is a common sign of puberty. If you're in middle school or junior high, girl classmates may suddenly get taller than you. That's because girls start getting taller around age 9, guys around age 11 with a growth spurt at 13 or 14.

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During puberty, a guy's body starts making sperm.

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During puberty, a guy's body starts making sperm.

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Most guys in puberty start making sperm, which means they could father a child. The exact timing of sperm production can’t be pinpointed, but as puberty progresses sperm count goes up.

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Puberty in guys is triggered by the:

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Puberty in guys is triggered by the:

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The part of the brain called the hypothalamus starts the ball rolling by secreting hormones that trigger the testes to make testosterone. This and other hormones cause most of the changes that happen during puberty. Testosterone and other hormones also start the production of sperm.

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Most cases of delayed puberty require medical treatment.

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Most cases of delayed puberty require medical treatment.

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If there are no signs of puberty by 14, it's called "delayed." It usually doesn't need medical treatment. But a doctor should be seen to make sure the delay is not caused by a medical issue. Sometimes doctors prescribe testosterone to jump-start the process.

 

It's not known why some people have delayed puberty, but most commonly there is a family history of late bloomers. 

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Guys in puberty gain the ability to:

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Guys in puberty gain the ability to:

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Puberty begins many changes for guys and girls, and not all of them are physical. Many changes happen in your brain. As you grow from childhood into adolescence, you are more capable of abstract thinking, planning things, and setting goals for the future. You also start exploring your personality traits and the kind of person you want to be when you get older. That's called "identity formation."

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In guys, puberty stimulates production of which hormones?

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In guys, puberty stimulates production of which hormones?

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Testosterone is the main hormone responsible for physical changes in boys. Puberty also makes you produce more estrogen. It's usually thought of as a "female" hormone, but guys have it, too. Guys in puberty make about six times more estrogen than they did before puberty. But you make 20 times more testosterone than before.

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Puberty may make guys eat hundreds more calories a day.

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Puberty may make guys eat hundreds more calories a day.

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What parents say is true: Teen guys eat a lot. Prepubescent boys averaged about 1,300 calories for lunch. Guys age 14 to 17 averaged 2,000 calories, according to a study. You eat more because your body needs more calories and nutrients.

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Peak testosterone levels in puberty can lead to risky behavior.

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Peak testosterone levels in puberty can lead to risky behavior.

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Testosterone levels peak late in puberty, and guys tend to do more reckless, even dangerous, things. There's also more of a tendency to violence, according to research, and more fatal accidents. It's known as the "accident hump," and it happens in almost all cultures worldwide.

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A guy is more likely to be disruptive or aggressive when he goes through puberty:

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A guy is more likely to be disruptive or aggressive when he goes through puberty:

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Guys who go through puberty faster than normal tend to have more behavioral issues -- being more aggressive or disruptive -- than others. Research has shown that guys who go through puberty earlier have more "distress and hostility." Experts think that may be because they don’t have as much time to adjust to the changes in their mind and body.

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Reviewed by Brunilda Nazario, MD on September 30, 2011

Sources: Sources

This tool does not provide medical advice. See additional information: See additional information

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