Learn More About Puberty Puberty is an important stage of life. During this period, you will face both physiological and psychological changes in order to mature into adulthood. When facing these changes, on one hand you will be excited; on the other hand, you may be troubled or even at a loss. However, if you have an understanding these troubles and grasp the suitable methods to manage them, you may happily welcome your puberty. Menstrual Cramp Most teenage girls are free from discomfort during menstruation, but some may have menstrual cramp. Menstrual cramp is a pain in the lower abdomen caused by womb contraction during menstruation. It usually occurs in the first couple of days of menstruation; sometimes it may occur even before menstruation and lasts for several days. Handling Method Sufficient rest Try to relax Go to school or work as usual to divert attention Use hot water bag to ease the pain at the abdomen Exercise regularly, eat and drink properly to avoid constipation If the cramp gets severe, consult health care personnel. Take a pain killer under doctor's instruction if necessary Breasts Swelling and Pain Female breasts start to develop at the onset of puberty. Breast tissues include mammary glands and fat, with some ligaments but no muscles. During this stage of development, some teenage girls find their breasts swollen and painful, and the pain will intensify if their breasts are touched by hard objects. These are normal phenomenon. As long as there is no hard lump in the breasts, you need not worry. If you find anything abnormal in your breasts, tell your parents and consult a doctor. When your breasts start to develop, you should buy suitable bras to support your breasts. Keep your breasts clean. Lots of teenage girls worry over their breast size. In fact, the size of breasts is attributed to heredity, nutrition and other factors. Every person is unique and has one's own figure. No matter what your breast size is, you can have a happy marriage, bear children normally and breast-feed your baby successfully. Body Odor During puberty, large quantities of sebum and sweat will be produced in both genders. As oil and sweat accumulate on their skin, together with the dust in the air, a layer of dirt will be formed and pores will be clogged, releasing an unpleasant odor. Therefore, pay particular attention to personal hygiene. Shower every day and change underwear, outer-clothes and socks often. Shower more frequently if necessary, especially after sports. Offensive smell from the armpits or genital area, is common in teenagers. It is hereditary and non-infectious, and will not affect health. The way to handle it is to keep your body clean and change your clothes often. You may also consider the use of a deodorant or antiperspirant. Consult a doctor if the case becomes severe. Acne Acne is usually called pimple. Sebaceous glands secrete oil to lubricate the skin and keep hair soft. At puberty, oil secretion increases. When this oil becomes trapped with dirt, they will clog the pore and form a hard dark spot, i.e. the “blackhead”. If the follicle is infected by bacteria, it will turn red, swollen, inflamed and become a pustule. Factors such as dirty skin, greasy diet, anxiety, insufficient sleep, etc. may possibly cause your pimples to increase. Some females may have acne before menstruation due to changes in their hormone secretion. Handling Method Clean your face Wash your face often with mild soap and lukewarm water to help dilate the pores, so that you can clean away the excessive oil and dirt. Therefore, pores will not be easily clogged and acnes will be reduced. Healthy diet Drink more water and eat more vegetables and fruits. Keep a good bowel habit. Avoid eating oily food such as fried food, chocolate, cakes or fat meat. Spicy food, smoking or drinking should also be stopped. Healthy lifestyle Have adequate sleep and keep regular hours. Perform physical activities regularly and pay attention to personal hygiene afterwards. Emotional control Acnes would increase if you are emotional, nervous or over-anxious. Try to be cheerful and relaxed. Other issues Keep your hands clean. Never pop the acnes with hands. Never peel off the scab when the acne begins to heal. Let the scab come off naturally to avoid leaving a scar. Do not take any medication on your own. If the condition becomes severe, consult a doctor. Wet Dream When boys enter puberty, their testicles start to produce sperms in large amount. When they sleep, the inhibition of the central nervous system is relaxed and the sperms accumulated in the body will be ejected when the penis is stimulated by body turning and twisting, or by pressure from tight underwear or bedclothes, or even sex dreams. This is called wet dream. Wet dreams are normal for teenage boys and are not harmful to health. Do not worry about it too much. The episodes of wet dreams vary from person to person. Some may never experience it while others may have it once a month, up to two or three times a week. If wet dreams happen too often, you may try the following preventive measures: Sleep on your side Use comfortable bedclothes and wear loose underwear during sleep to prevent pressure on the genitals Do not drink alcohol and avoid full stomach before going to bed. Remember to urinate before sleep Do not read porn magazines or watch porn movies Masturbation Masturbation is to self-stimulate one's own genitals with hand or other object to cause sexual sensations. Masturbation is common in teenage boys and there is no need to feel ashamed or guilty about it. Although masturbation is not harmful to your health, you should still pay attention to personal hygiene. Do not use any masturbation approaches that may harm your body, and also do not indulge in it to the extent that it affects your normal social life and study. In order to avoid over-indulgence, you may consider the following methods: Avoid objects that may induce masturbation such as porn books or movies If you have any confusion or questions, talk to your teachers and friends or seek advice from professionals. Avoid being alone too often and do not use masturbation as a mean of escape from reality Participate in sports, join group activities and develop a few healthy hobbies so as to channel your excessive energies into something else and let yourself be occupied Conclusion: Puberty may cause you many problems. However, every one of us has the responsibility to love our own body, be positive and optimistic when facing all the problems in this period. As long as we can handle these problems, we can enjoy our life happily. Every young person should accept their predestined hereditary traits and the physical changes in the body. We should be happy to develop our own potentials and cultivate our personality, and try our best to build a healthy and happy life.