Teen Girls' Health

Teen Girls' Guide to Teen Boys

Sex and the Power of Hormones

The same male hormones that brought on hair growth and B.O. also stir up new sexual urges.

“Girls might notice boys paying more attention,” Legano says.

Strong thoughts about sex, Lerner says, sometimes “lead to intense focus and intense but brief connection, which may pass very quickly.” That’s often confusing, he says.

All these thoughts lead to lots of erections, when the penis fills with blood and becomes hard. And, it can be tough for guys at this age to control them.

It takes some time for guys (and girls) to sort out all the thoughts and feelings they’re having about sex and to figure out who they are, but it’s a normal part of growing up.

Give a Guy a Break

If you think boys are so immature, think again.

The guy who may have a hard time talking with you may not be confident or he may not be an awesome communicator -- yet.  Guys (and girls) start to show more empathy, mature social skills, and have more intimate relationships around age 17. That’s when the frontal lobe of the brain, which plays a big role in self-control, develops more fully.

Boys who "may seem immature, shy, and not socially mature will develop soon and become more comfortable with themselves,” Legano says.

Your best bet is to be kind to people -- guys or girls -- and think about who they're becoming, not just who they are right now. That's part of growing up, too.