Puberty: An inevitable transition

In addition to all these new aspects of the teenager's life, the body also undergoes important changes. Puberty is simply the "passage from childhood to adulthood" and it peaks during adolescence, not surprisingly. Below are some of the changes a young person might experience as their hormones kick in during adolescence:

15 puberty-related changes 

1. Increase in height
2. Increased production of hormones (estrogen and progesterone) which leads to the onset of menstruation
3. Increased hair growth in the legs, armpits, genitals, and face
4. Development of the penis and testicles through an increase in the volume of the scrotum
5. More pronounced appearance of the "Adam's apple" due to the expansion of the vocal cords
6. Modulation in the voice
7. Appearance of the first erections and ejaculations (day and night)
8. Enlargement of the pelvis and hips
9. Increase in weight and accumulation of fat around the buttocks, thighs, hips, and breasts
10. Increase in muscle mass
11. Development of the genitals with an increase in the size of the uterus, vagina, vulva, and labia
12. Appearance of the mammary bud and development of the breasts
13. Significant increase in testosterone levels
14. Activation of sperm production
15. And much more

Puberty and its challenges

Ah, this famous period full of hormonal changes... What fun, huh? Of course, these bodily changes bring their share of complications... on top of all the other changes related to the transition from elementary to high school. When your teenager feels supported, heard, and encouraged by those around them,  they will have a much easier time moving through this phase. Puberty asks us to start trying to understand and accept your own body as it changes, often quite rapidly. Adapting to a constantly changing body with an appearance that doesn't always feel comfortable can be difficult, but the support of loved ones (friends and family, mainly) can help your teen grow and learn to function well personally and socially as a future young adult. 

Does puberty signal the beginning of sexuality?

Puberty can come with a lot of questions, especially about our bodies and the bodies of others. Teens are big on comparison. Before discovering another person's body, teenagers usually discover their own body. It's common for teens to discover their sexual functions through masturbation. Masturbation allows young people to learn how their bodies respond to sexual stimulation. Discovering that their body has a positive sexual response on a regular basis provides a certain sense of security that their body is functioning properly. In other words, "when my body is functioning well sexually (that I am able to menstruate or ejaculate, feel pleasure, relax, reach orgasm and therefore eventually be fertile), I feel reassured."

The reverse is also true, and struggling with sexual dysfunction often leads to significant distress for most people in adolescence and early adulthood. Because adolescence is already full of challenges, sexual dysfunction is not something that should be taken lightly. If it does happen, sexologists are the professionals to turn to first.

Discovering yourself through sex

Discovering yourself starts with getting to know yourself better, and also involves exploring your sexuality. Knowing what turns us on and what doesn't, what gives us pleasure and what we don't like, allows us to set limits when the first feelings of love come along. If your teen is curious, they may not hesitate to ask their friends, partner and family (including you, their parent) questions about sex. Know that it's normal for your teen to have questions, and that if they ask you the question (no matter how strange it may seem), it's also a sign that they're ready to hear the answer. 

How can I learn more to better inform my teen?

As parents, it's important to be well-informed so that you can better equip your child and guide them through their future adult life. We want their relationships (friendships, love affairs, sexual relationships) to be marked by respect and authenticity. Sexual exploration is a normal and important step in your teen's psychosexual development. It is therefore natural for your teenager to want to discover themselves, but also to want to discover others, through sex. As a parent reading this, you too have gone through the process of discovering another person through sex, even if only once!  And your teen is no different from you.

References (in French)

Alberta Health Services, Changements pendant la puberté
Société canadienne de pédiatrie, Grandir : De l’information pour les filles au sujet de la puberté
Société canadienne de pédiatrie, Grandir : De l’information pour les garçons au sujet de la puberté
Encephale, Risk-taking in adolescence: a neuroeconomics approach
Encephale, Influence de la maturation pubertaire et de l’estime de soi corporelle sur la sexualité à l’adolescence
Éducaloi, Consentement sexuel