DEVELOPMENT
The
first sign of puberty (usually around 9 1/2 to 13 1/2 years
old) is an increase in the size of the testicles.
Next, pubic hair appears and the penis begins to grow.
The complete change form preadolescent to adult takes between
2 and 5 years. The entire process was studied by Dr.
Tanner. His Sex Maturity Rating is used by the medical
profession to determine what level of genital development
has taken place.
Stage
1 is the preadolescent. There is no pubic hair
(except for a fine peach fuzz similar to that on the belly
and elsewhere) and the penis and testicles are in the same
proportions as in childhood.
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Stage
2
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Stage
3
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Stage
4
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Stage
5
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In
Stage 2, there is sparse growth of long, slightly
darkened, pubic hair at the base of the penis. The
testicles begin to get larger, and the scrotum begins to
get a reddened and altered texture. The penis may
grow slightly or not at all.
In
Stage 3, the pubic hair gets darker, coarser, and
curlier. It begins to spread over the pubic
bone (PU). The testicles continue to enlarge and
the scrotum texture becomes more like that of an adult.
The penis gets longer.
In
Stage 4, the pubic hair grows to cover the base of
the penis and begins to grown on the upper part of the scrotum.
The hair gets darker, coarser, and curlier. The scrotal
skin gets darker as the testicles continues to grow.
The penis continues to grow longer, and gets wider.
The glans, or head, of the penis becomes much more prominent.
In
Stage 5, the pubic hair has spread to the inside
of the thighs. The scrotum, testicles, and penis grow
to their final adult size and shape.
