Question:
Morning sir,
Recently, I have noticed a few things about my puberty pattern. At the start of my 16th year, I gained 12 kg, increasing from 63 kg to 75 kg. Now, 10 months later, I’ve gone back to 74 kg because I was more physically active. I also noticed my shoulder broadened a bit. My height is increasing gradually. I grew a total of 2 cm in July and 1 cm just last week. My voice is very cracky and a bit childish, but also sounds teen-like. I’m not sure how to describe it. My friend said it’s cracky and a bit deeper than a child. Essentially, when I shout, it sounds thin and childish.
Can you help me figure out my Tanner stage?
Thank you, sir.
Answer:
You didn’t give me much information to work with. Please remember that I can’t see you, so I can’t fill in any missing information.
Broadening shoulders indicate you are in stage 4. The changing of your voice also occurs in stage 4. Your rate of growth is also typical of stage 4. Slimming down is common in stages 3 or 4, as your body no longer requires as much stored energy to fuel growth.
Using the Tanner Stage Calculator for Boys should provide a reasonable estimate of your current stage.
Question:
- My legs and arms look a little longer compared to my torso
- My shoe size has grown steadily each year
- I have a bit of noticeable hair on my legs
- I have hair on my upper lip and chin, but it’s not a beard; it’s soft. If I shave them, it will take me 1month to grow back the same amount
- I have underarm hair, but not much compared to adults in my family
- My chest looks soft. There is no muscle under them
- My fat is centered around my chest, stomach, face, and thighs
- My pubic hair has a thicker density and is longer around the base of my penis, while on the groin, it’s sparse. The hair all seems to be either wavy or straight
- About the acne: I had it at the start of puberty, between the ages of 13 and 14. It has faded now. I still have them, but not as many as before. My little sister has the same pattern. We had acne at the start, then it faded away
- My scrotum is swollen compared to a child’s, but it doesn’t hang down
- My flaccid penis is 6 cm in length and 5 cm in girth
- My body fat has reduced because I forced myself to work out more. So I would bike to school and home, and then do a 30-40 minute workout six days a week
Answer:
These details place you near the end of stage 3 or very close to the start of stage 4.