Males

Male puberty is different from female puberty in many ways. Unlike ovulation, which occurs late in female puberty, spermatogenesis and ejaculation occur early in male pu­berty; ejaculation may even precede secondary sexual characteristics such as body hair and voice changes. Some boys become capable of impregnating a female even while ap­pearing sexually immature (Lancaster, 1986). Boys’ voices change more drastically than girls’, and their growth spurts tend to be more extreme and dramatic, usually accompa­nied by an increase in appetite. Because boys’ pubertal growth tends to be more uneven and sporadic than girls’, the adolescent boy will often appear gangly or awkward. As a boy’s testicles begin to increase their production of testosterone, his scrotum darkens and the testes and penis enlarge. As puberty progresses, pubic hair appears, the larynx en­larges, bones grow, and the frame takes on a more adult appearance.

For the most part, early development in boys is usually not as embarrassing as it is in girls; a larger penis may be a symbol of status, and beginning to shave may be seen as a sign of maturity and adulthood. However, adolescent boys do experience frequent spontaneous erections, which may have no association with sexuality but are nonethe­less quite embarrassing. Their increased sexual desire is released through nocturnal ^nocturnal emission emissions and increased masturbation. Involuntary ejaculation during sleep, also

referred to as a "wet dream."

Updated: 07.11.2015 — 13:24