Puberty in boys, Part 2: Tackling wet dreams and unexpected erections
Dear boys: Our article Puberty in Boys, gave you an outline on puberty. This one will give you some significant pointers on the changes your body is undergoing. So if you are a boy who is going through puberty, this is a must read!
A low-down on erection
When a boy’s penis hardens and lengthens, it is called erection. This usually happens when he has romantic or sexual thoughts, or upon physical stimulation. But, during puberty a boy will get erections more often, at times even without any stimulation.
When you have an erection — if your penis doesn’t stand up straight — don’t worry. Most erections tend to either curve to one side or curve upwards. And boys, don’t worry about the size of your penis – most penises are around the same size when they are erect.
How to deal with an unexpected erection
It’s very common to have spontaneous erections during puberty, and there is not much a boy can do to stop it. Nevertheless, there are ways to deal with it.
Wearing tighter styles of underwear can help in a big way.
Another thing you can do is to sit down when you have an unexpected erection, or cover it with something.
Focus on something else till it goes away.
Most importantly, remember, it happens to everyone.
What is a wet dream?
Erections can happen any time, even when a boy is asleep. A wet dream occurs when a boy is sexually aroused during his sleep and ejaculates (releasing semen, a whitish sticky fluid which contains sperm, from the penis). Sometimes one can remember the sex dream. But mostly, one will just notice a wet patch on his clothes, after waking up.
There is nothing embarrassing about a wet dream. It is natural, and happens to many people. However, there is nothing to fear if you don’t have one, as not everyone gets it.
Cleaning the pubic region
A boy must wash his penis and testicles, especially behind his foreskin, every single day. Or else he can become vulnerable to infections.
All about shaving
When a boy starts growing facial hair, there is usually very little hair – mostly on his upper lip and chin. This can be removed with a razor.
At first, a boy may need to shave once in two weeks or even less. Eventually, he’d have to shave more often. However, this varies from person to person. Read the tips below:
Use a facial cleanser or scrub to remove dead skin cells and open skin pores to prepare it for a close shave.
Massage shaving cream onto areas where you have hair growth.
Use a sharp blade. A dull blade is usually the culprit when it comes to shaving cuts, as it drags over the face and catches the skin along with hair.
Shave in the direction of hair growth. Shaving against hair growth can cause redness, rashes, and ingrown hair, which are all painful.
After shaving, finish it off with an oil-free moisturiser or an after shave.
Mood swings during puberty
During puberty, boys go through sudden changes in feelings. He might feel like laughing at one moment and crying the next. These sudden mood changes are caused by chemicals called hormones. Speaking to a trusted friend or adult is the best way to cope.
Sadly, our culture teaches boys not to vent grief through crying – because of which sadness is often suppressed, leading to difficulties in expressing emotions later on.
It’s important to realise that every human being goes through a range of emotions and it is healthy to express it constructively.
So if you’re feeling sad — cry it out — there is absolutely nothing wrong with doing that.
Photograph courtesy sxc.hu
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Puberty in boys, Part 2: Tackling wet dreams and unexpected erections is a post from: mDhil
