Puberty: physical changes
Puberty usually begins in adolescence. During this period, the child's body will go through a series of biological changes: rapid growth, weight gain, the development of the genitals, the growth of body hair.
These changes mean that yesterday's child gradually turns into an adult.
What is puberty?
These are successive biological and physical changes in the child's body that lead to the development of secondary sexual characteristics and the possibility of conception and birth of children.
Adult conversation
Today's teenagers are well aware of where they came from, but it's never too late to talk to them about contraception. When it comes to such important issues, parents need to follow several important principles.
When does puberty begin?
Puberty begins at different times for everyone. As a rule, it occurs in girls between the ages of 10 and 14, and in boys from 12 to 16.
In our time, teenage girls develop faster than boys. So, the average age of the appearance of the first menstruation in 1900 was 15 years. In 1990, it was already 12.5 years old.
Scientists believe that early puberty in girls is caused by factors such as excessive nutrition and obesity.
According to some studies, too early onset of hormonal changes in the child's body can increase the risk of cancer in older age.
What physical changes occur during puberty?
Development of secondary sexual characteristics
The first sign of the beginning of puberty in girls is the development of the mammary glands. It begins around the age of 11, along with the beginning of the production of female sex hormones – estrogens. Then there is usually hair growth on the pubis and in the armpits.
The next stage is the beginning of ovulation (the maturation of eggs ready for fertilization in the ovaries) and the beginning of menstruation.
The main sign of the onset of puberty in boys is an increase in the size of the testicles. It starts around the age of 11 and lasts for about six months. Then, in adolescents, the penis increases in size, and hair appears on the pubis and in the armpits.
Under the influence of the male hormone testosterone, which begins to be produced in the body, boys ' voices become rougher and their muscle mass increases. At the same time, boys begin to produce sperm capable of fertilization.
The last stage of puberty is the appearance of facial hair.
Growth spurt
Puberty in both sexes is usually accompanied by rapid growth of the body in height. During this period, it increases by an average of 17-18 percent.
In girls, the growth spurt begins on average two years earlier – about six months before the first menstruation.
Skeleton growth
The period of puberty is characterized by the growth and increase in bone density in adolescents. In girls and boys, this process peaks immediately after the growth spurt.
Important! The bones first grow in length, and only then does the bone density increase. Because of this, adolescents are at high risk of fractures.
Weight change
During puberty, girls begin to actively form adipose tissue in the body, mainly on the thighs and buttocks.
In boys, too, fat begins to be deposited, but outwardly this is not so noticeable, since in parallel there is an increased growth of muscle tissue. Its mass by the end of puberty in a male teenager becomes one and a half times more than in a girl of the same height and weight.
Other changes
Together with puberty in adolescents, the final formation of the cardiovascular system and lungs occurs. This leads to an increase in the efficiency of these organs. This process is especially effective if the teenager is engaged in sports.
The most important thing
Puberty is not just the appearance of menstruation in girls or facial hair in boys. This is also a period of active growth and development of the entire body of a teenager.
