The Ultimate Guide to Puberty and Sexual Development for Teens
To all girls, you must learn and be aware of the emotional and sexual changes in your body as you grow. The puberty stage is a natural process that you should never be ashamed of. Not only should you be well-informed about puberty changes and sexual development, but a girl should also be encouraged to talk publicly on such topics to raise concerns.
This blog will guide you throughout the process, providing you with the most accurate information and a supportive environment to successfully navigate this critical development stage.
What is Puberty?
A natural process of physical and hormonal change that you might have noticed in your body or will notice after a certain age. It is a transition from childhood to adulthood when your sexual organs mature. It typically begins earlier in girls than in boys. The puberty age for females is 8 to 13 years, when you start noticing changes in your body, such as the development of secondary sexual characteristics. The series of changes includes the growth of pubic hair, breast development, and menstruation.
Physical Changes during Puberty
Physical Growth
One of the first changes you will notice is that your hands and feet start to grow. It feels a little clumsy until you reach 2 years old after it starts. You can also notice your weight catching up, especially around your hips and thighs; you become curvier.
Skin Changes
Skin change is another physical change during puberty when your body produces different levels of hormones. The hormones produced affect your glands, which control the oil on your skin. This causes pimples and acne on your skin, which increases as you go through the stage.
Having physical changes during puberty is normal. These changes indicate that the body is growing and developing as it should. These changes may vary from person to person. Sometimes change may make you feel awkward and uncomfortable, but you should understand that it is a natural part of the transition from childhood to adulthood.
Puberty Stages in Girls
The stages are often defined by the physical changes during puberty that occur in your body until you reach 16 to 18 years of age. The following are the puberty stages:
Prepubertal
During the prepubertal stage, you will not experience any physical change. The ovaries and uterus are also not fully developed.
Breast Budding
This is puberty stage 2, when you start experiencing the changes. Breast budding is the first sign visible to you and occurs between 8 and 13 years of age. You experience:
- Breast budding begins, and the areolas around them become larger and darker.
- Hair started to appear, and height increased by 2 ¾ inches per year.
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Growth Spurt & the Pubic Hair
Puberty stage 3 is when the changes start to speed up between 9 and 14 years. You started experiencing a growth spurt, which can cause them to grow quickly. It is a stage when pubic and underarm hair also start to grow, and the hair becomes darker and coarser.
Menstruation
Menstruation is the stage that occurs around 2 years after breast budding. It typically occurs when you reach 12 years of age. Your menstruation period also depends on when your mother’s and sister’s periods began and if you have any disorders. So, it can even start earlier or later.
Menstruation, also called periods, is a natural part of the body. The shedding of the uterus lining occurs every 28 days, which means once every month, you will experience bleeding. The length and sometimes the time period may vary from person to person depending on the health conditions. Even the amount and duration of bleeding depend. It is normal to witness irregularities in your menstrual cycles. However, over time, the menstrual cycle becomes appropriate and regular.
Being a girl, whether you have started bleeding or not yet, you should be aware of periods or menstrual cycles. You should also know that moods, cravings, bloating, and cramps are normal to have during periods. It is essential for you to understand the basics of menstruation to have access to appropriate hygiene products such as pads, tampons, and menstrual cups.
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