SEXUAL ANATOMY OF CHILDREN. ERECTIONS, SEXUAL FANTASIES. GYNECOMASTIA

Spermarche, Erections, and Wet Dreams

Boys have erections all their lives, starting from the moment they are born. But at puberty, erections occur more often. Many young men think that the occurrence of an erection means that their bodies are ready for sexual activity. This is not true. For example, when a boy or man wakes up from sleep, he may have an erection. This is because his bladder is full. A full bladder may stimulate nerves inside the body near the base of the penis and cause an erection.

Erections normally occur throughout the night during sleep. Erotic dreams cause young men to become aroused in their sleep. Young men undergoing puberty may notice that when they wake up, heir bellies, clothing, or sheets are sticky and wet around their penis. This is because young men may ejaculate in their sleep. The ejaculate, or semen, is the sticky substance found when a young man awakens. Ejaculating in one’s sleep is often called a wet dream. The clinical name is nocturnal emission. Almost all young men will have wet dreams. Boys and men who ejaculate during masturbation or other forms of sex play are less likely to have wet dreams.

The first time a young man ejaculates is called spermarche. Ejaculation can occur during nocturnal emission, masturbation, or sexual intercourse.

Sexual Thoughts and Fantasies

A young woman’s body will begin to respond to sexual thoughts and stimulation during puberty. Before puberty, children and babies touch the vulva only because it feels good. Their autoerotic play is usually not a sexual type of pleasure because it doesn’t involve sexual thinking or fantasy. At puberty, young women may begin to touch the clitoris and vulva for sexual pleasure. They can also be aroused by sexual thoughts or touch. Sexually stimulating dreams may mean that a girl wakes up with her vulva moistened with lubrication.

Sexual arousal—an erection or lubrication of the vulva—may happen without sexual activity. All the sensitive nerve endings that give us sexual pleasure are present from birth in girls and boys. A puberty, young women and men begin to have more sexual thoughts. When they touch themselves in the same way they have done all their lives, but with sexual fantasies while they are doing it, it is more correctly considered sexual activity.

Breast Size Changes in Boys—Gynecomastia

The change in hormones during puberty may cause surplus estrogen to be produced in a young man’s body. This usually happens only for a short period of time. It can mean that his breasts become slightly larger. This condition is called gynecomastia. It happens in 40 to 60 percent of adolescent boys. Young men feel very self-conscious and embarrassed about having enlarged breasts. During puberty, gynecomastia is usually temporary—it goes away within one to two years. I it happens before a boy goes through puberty, or continues after puberty, a health care provider should be consulted.