Table of Contents
- Overview
- Prevention
- Images
Puberty is the time in which a child's sexual and physical characteristics mature. It occurs due to hormone changes.
Adolescence is the period between puberty and adulthood.
Alternative Names
Maturation - sexual; Adolescence; Reproductive development; Sexual maturation; Menarche; Adrenarche
Information
The exact age a child enters puberty depends on a number of different things, such as genes, nutrition, and gender. During puberty,
- In girls, the ovaries begin to increase production of estrogen and other female hormones.
- In boys, the testicles increase production of
testosterone .
The adrenal glands produce hormones that cause increased armpit sweating, body odor,
PUBERTY IN GIRLS
Breast development is the main sign that a girl is entering puberty. The first menstrual period (menarche) usually follows within about 2 years.
Before the first menstrual period, a girl will normally have:
Review Date: 11/02/2010
Reviewed By: Jennifer K. Mannheim, ARNP, Medical Staff, Department of Psychiatry
and Behavioral Health, Seattle Childrenâs
Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director,
A.D.A.M., Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
