What is puberty?
Puberty is the period of growth and development in which children and adolescents develop adult physical features, such as breasts or pubic hair, and become able to reproduce (have babies). For girls, puberty usually begins at age 8½ to 10 years and lasts about 4 years.
When puberty starts in a girl depends on the following:
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Weight: Girls who are overweight usually start puberty earlier
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Nutrition: Girls who don’t have access to or can’t absorb proper nutrition start puberty later
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Genetics: Daughters of mothers who started puberty early are likely to also start early
What causes puberty?
The entire reproductive system, including puberty, is controlled by hormones. Hormones are chemical messengers made in certain parts of your body that travel through the blood to signal other parts of the body what to do.
Puberty in girls starts when hormones released by the brain cause the ovaries to develop. The ovaries then release the hormone estrogen. Estrogen causes development of the girl’s reproductive system, including her:
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Breasts
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Vagina
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Ovaries (the pair of organs where eggs are made and stored)
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Uterus (the organ where a fetus grows before being born)
Menstrual periods usually begin a few years after puberty starts.
What changes happen in puberty?
The following physical changes take place, usually in this order:
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First, breast growth—this usually happens between ages 8 and 13
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Shortly after, hair starts to grow in the armpits and genital area
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A growth spurt in height happens—growth usually slows down when periods start
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Periods (menstruation) start about 2 to 3 years after the start of breast growth
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Girls usually stop growing in height between ages 14 and 16
The first period usually happens about age 13 though it can be anytime between ages 10 and 16. Periods may not come regularly at first. It can take up to 5 years for the menstrual cycle to become regular. As girls grow, their body shape will change. Their hips and thighs get bigger, and they get more body fat. This is a normal part of puberty in girls.
Milestones in Sexual Development
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During puberty, sexual development occurs in a set sequence. However, when the changes begin and how quickly they occur vary from person to person. For girls, puberty begins at age 8 1/2 to 10 years and lasts about 4 years. The chart shows a typical sequence and normal range of development for the milestones of sexual development. |
What can go wrong with puberty?
Problems with puberty usually involve hormones. There are many different hormone problems that result in too few hormones so that:
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Puberty is delayed or doesn’t start at all
Less often, there are too many hormones and the girl has:
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Early puberty
Now lets quickly learn some facts about puberty.
Fact 1: Puberty changes the way you smell.
For many kids, sweaty body odor is noticeable before other puberty changes.
That’s because hormones trigger the sweat glands in your skin to make more sweat. The bacteria on your skin digest your sweat, creating body odor.
Fact 2: Puberty changes your hair.
New hair here, new hair there, new hair where? Thanks to puberty hormones, hair grows in new areas around your body.
Fact 3: Puberty changes your shape.
As your body grows taller, it becomes heavier, too.
Fact 4: Puberty changes your skin.
Puberty hormones can trigger oil glands in your skin to make too much oil. This can clog your skin pores, which can then cause a buildup of dead skin cells and bacteria. As a result, the pores can get swollen and red, leading to pimples on the skin.
The most important puberty fact: Growing up is NOT a race!
Of all of these puberty facts, here are the most important takeaway points:
- Everyone grows at their own pace.
- It’s normal for kids to experience puberty changes at different times.
- People come in various shapes and sizes before, during, and after puberty.
What other facts about puberty have you learned?
Puberty is filled with big changes for many kids. If you have any questions about puberty, remember that parents, doctors, and teachers can help you figure things out.
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