Puberty and adolescence

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Female reproductive anatomy

Male reproductive anatomy

Overview

Puberty and adolescence

Definition:

Puberty refers to the period of sexual maturation. Puberty is when the child experiences physical, hormonal, and sexual changes and becomes capable of reproduction. It is associated with rapid growth and the appearance of secondary sexual characteristics.

Adolescence is the period of transition between puberty and adulthood.

Alternative Names:
Sexual education; Maturation - sexual; Adolescence; Reproductive development; Sexual maturation
Information:

text continues below

When a healthy child is somewhere between 9 and 16 years old, he or she will enter puberty. The exact age depends on factors such as heredity and nutrition and whether the child is a boy or girl. On average, boys enter puberty 2 years later than girls. At this time, the pituitary and hypothalamus glands in the brain (endocrine glands) begin sending out new hormones that trigger the changes of puberty.

Both boys and girls usually experience sudden gains in height and weight. The hormones will regulate and help determine the person's body build (whether the person tends to be tall or short, thin or heavy, and so on).

The hormones also cause secondary sex characteristics and interest in sex. In girls, the ovaries begin to increase production of estrogen and other female hormones. In boys, the testicles increase production of testosterone.

The sweat glands become more active. The sweat produced has a slightly different content than when the child was small (it begins to develop more of an odor). Oil glands become more active, and acne may appear.

At this time the importance of personal hygiene becomes apparent and it is important for boys and girls who are beginning to mature to pay attention to regular bathing and other aspects of hygiene. The adolescent may find that an underarm deodorant or antiperspirant becomes necessary.

PUBERTY IN GIRLS

Puberty usually occurs in girls between ages 9 and 16 years. The start of menstrual periods (menarche) is one of the most visible signs that a girl is entering puberty. Before having the first menstrual period, the pubescent girl will normally experience:

rapid growth, especially an increase in height
breast enlargement
pubic, armpit, and leg hair growth
clear or whitish vaginal secretions
increased hip width

The ovaries increase their production of estrogen and other hormones. This begins the monthly menstrual cycle. Having menstrual periods is only one part of this cycle. Girls are born with a place for babies to grow (the uterus). Next to the uterus are two small glands (the ovaries). The ovaries produce the female hormones and begin to release eggs, which have been stored in the ovaries since birth.