What is puberty?
- When weird stuff happens to you
- When a child’s body is changing into an adult
- When zombies take over planet earth
Answer: When a child’s body is changing into an adult
Puberty is the time when a child is changing into an adult. Sometimes this is called adolescence. Some people think the things that happen during puberty are weird, but the more you know about puberty, the easier it is to prepare and adjust to how your body changes.
During puberty your body becomes able to reproduce, or have children?
- True
- False
Answer: True
During puberty your body becomes able to reproduce, or have children. Your reproductive parts mature and your body grows bigger and stronger.
What causes puberty to begin? Your…
- Age
- Hormones
- Maturity
Answer: Hormones
Certain hormones become more active during puberty. They travel around the bloodstream and signal different body parts to switch on and off, or change what they do.
Which hormone is responsible for most of the changes that happen to a boy’s body during puberty?
- Insulin
- Oestrogen
- Testosterone
Answer: Testosterone
When boys start puberty their testes secrete the hormone Testosterone. Testosterone is responsible for most of the changes that happen to a boy’s body during puberty.
Which hormone is responsible for most of the changes that happen to a girl’s body during puberty?
- Oestrogen
- Testosterone
- Insulin
Answer: Oestrogen
When girls start puberty their ovaries secrete the hormone Oestrogen. Oestrogen is responsible for most of the changes that happen to a girl’s body during puberty.
Everyone starts puberty at the age of 9.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Puberty changes can start any time around the age of 9, but it’s different for each person. It will happen when the time is right for them.
Sometimes a boy’s body will release seminal fluid through the penis during the night when he’s asleep. This is called
- Wetting the bed
- A wet dream
- An erection
- Masturbation
Answer: A wet dream
Sometimes ejaculation can happen when a boy is asleep. This is called a “wet dream” and is a boy’s body getting used to its new sperm production and usually happens less often as a boy gets older.
A boy can have many erections each day.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Erections can happen more often during puberty. An erection can happen when something is sexy, or just because there is a lot of blood flowing around the body, like after sport.
About how often will a girl have her period?
- Once a month
- Twice a year
- Once a week
Answer: Once a month
The menstrual cycle is how a girl’s body prepares for a possible pregnancy. If no pregnancy occurs she will have a menstrual period. At first, girl’s periods might be irregular but after the first year they usually settle into a pattern of once a month.
Asking someone whether they want to kiss, touch or have sex is called getting
- Lucky
- Consent
- A boyfriend/girlfriend
Answer: Consent
Asking someone if they want to kiss, touch or have sex is called getting consent. In any relationship, it’s important that both people feel comfortable and only do things that they want to do together. Either person has the right to say no, or to change their mind at any time.
A person can be attracted to
- Someone of the opposite sex (male and female)
- Someone of the same sex (male and male, or female and female)
- Someone of the opposite sex AND someone of the same sex (attracted to both sexes)
- Any of the above
Answer: Any of the above
Someone can be attracted to a person of the opposite sex, same sex, both sexes, or might not be attracted to anyone. All these forms of attraction are normal and healthy and no-one is allowed to be teased or bullied because of who they are or are not attracted to.
During puberty your feelings may be
- Happy
- Sad
- Angry
- All of the above
Answer: All of the above
During puberty, you might feel happy one minute and sad or angry the next. This is sometimes called mood swings. Hormones play a part in causing mood swings, but how you respond to them is up to you. Alone time doing things you enjoy and find relaxing like listening to music or reading; exercising; or sometimes talking to someone close to you like a parent or trusted adult, can be helpful things to remember in times of feeling angry or sad.
Which of the following is true: When a girl has her period she
- Should not exercise
- Cannot go swimming
- May experience period pain
- Is contagious
Answer: May experience period pain
Just before or during a period, some girls might experience period pain such as cramps, bloating, tiredness, or a headache. Girls can do all the things they would normally do when they have their period – swimming and exercise may even help relieve period pain. Tampons can be used when swimming and may be more comfortable to use during exercising also. A period is not contagious, and people will not know that you have your period just by looking at you.
You should always do what your friends want to do?
- True
- False
Answer: False
Your friendships will change during puberty. You might start making new friends as your interests change. Remember that friends are people that make you feel good about yourself and you never have to do anything that you don’t want to do.
During puberty, hair may start to grow thicker and darker
- Around the genitals
- Under the arms
- On the face
- All of the above
Answer: All of the above
During puberty, hair under your arms and around your genitals starts to become thicker and darker. It is also normal for girls and boys to notice changes to their arm hair, leg hair, back hair, stomach hair and facial hair.
In Australia, it is illegal to send nude or sexual pictures of someone under the age of 18.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Sending nude or sexual pictures or videos of oneself is sometimes called sexting. Sending nude or sexual imagery of someone under the age of 18 is considered child pornography and is illegal in Australia. If you send, receive or pass on a sexual image of someone under 18 (even if it is of yourself), you and the person you sent it to, or who you received it from, can be prosecuted for child pornography. This means your name could be placed on the sex offender registry and this can affect your reputation with colleges and future employers.
When a boy’s voice is breaking
- It means he talks too much
- His voice box will need stitches
- It is painful
- His vocal cords are growing
Answer: His vocal cords are growing
During puberty, hormones cause a boy’s voice box to grow and move down in the throat. While this is happening his voice might be squeaky one minute and low the next. This is called his voice breaking, but it doesn’t hurt. Once the voice box settles into its new position the boy’s voice will be lower than before.
Girls and boys will develop some breast tissue during puberty.
- True
- False
Answer: True
It is normal for girls and boys to develop some breast tissue under their nipples during puberty. For boys, this tissue can be tender, but usually goes away later in puberty. Girls’ breasts continue to develop into all different shapes and sizes.
Pimples are caused by
- Not having enough sleep
- Feeling stressed
- An increase in the skin’s oil
- Getting sunburnt
Answer: An increase in the skin’s oil
During puberty, the face sweats more and a layer of oil and dirt can build up and cause pimples. This is normal and pimples eventually go away. Keeping the skin clean is important and try not to touch or squeeze them, as this can make them worse or give you scars.
After puberty, all boys’ bodies will look the same and all girls’ bodies will look the same.
- True
- False
Answer: False
There is no such thing as a “normal boy body” or “normal girl body”. After puberty everyone’s body is different, so don’t worry if you don’t look the same as someone else. Every body is unique.
Guys start to produce sperm when they go through puberty.
- True
- False
Answer: True
During puberty, guys will start to produce sperm and ejaculate. This means their bodies are able to reproduce.
Where is sperm made?
- Penis
- Testes
- Scrotum
- Prostate gland
Answer: Testes
The testes are two small oval-shaped sex organs where sperm is produced when a boy has started puberty.
Pubic hair is
- Usually coarser than other hair on the body
- Always the same colour as the hair on your head
- Always short and curly
- All of the above
Answer: Usually coarser than other hair on the body
Pubic hair grows around the vulva, the base of the penis and testes. It is normal for this hair to be thicker and coarser than other body hair. Pubic hair varies for everyone, from the colour to the texture and amount.
Masturbation is
- Massaging your genitals for pleasure
- Normal and healthy
- Something both girls and guys can do
- All of the above
Answer: All of the above
Masturbation is when people touch, stroke or rub their own bodies for sexual pleasure. Both boys and girls can masturbate and it is a great way to get to know your own body and explore what you like and what turns you on. It is OK and normal to masturbate but it is something for you to enjoy in a private place. It is also OK and normal not to want to masturbate.
