What is puberty?
Puberty is the time when your child moves through a series of significant, natural and healthy changes.These physical, mental, and emotional changes indicate that your child is transitioning from childhood to maturity.
Puberty brings about a variety of changes, including:
- Inside and outside the bodies of children’s physical growth and development
- Changes to children’s sexual organs
- Changes in the brain
- Social and emotional changes.
When does puberty begin?
Puberty in girls usually starts between the ages of 8 and 13 and lasts for several years. This is the period during which your body matures and develops. Puberty helps your body prepare for the potential of having a kid later on. Hormones, which are naturally occurring substances in your body, are to blame for the changes.
When you reach puberty, you will notice physical and emotional changes. You may feel overwhelmed at times as a result of these changes. This is perfectly normal, but puberty is also an exciting time, so maintain a positive attitude.
Puberty may start before the age of eight if you are overweight, but it may start later if you are extremely athletic or underweight.
The most important thing to remember is that everyone is different, and you will reach puberty at a different time for your body than your family’s daughters. Consult your doctor if you haven’t developed breasts by the age of 12 or had your first period by the age of 15. Request to visit a female doctor if you feel more at ease.
What will happen to your body?
Physical growth
One of the first changes you’ll notice during puberty is that your hands and feet begin to develop, making you clumsy until the rest of your body follows up.
After puberty begins, you will most likely attain your peak growth two years later. You may only gain 5cm to 7.5cm in height after your primary growth spurt is over. You may gain weight during your development spurt, particularly around your hips, which become more curvaceous, and in your breasts.
Breasts that are growing
Growing breasts can be an uncomfortable and stressful experience, especially if you compare yourself to your friends or celebrities, or if others notice and criticize. It’s natural for your breasts to grow at varying speeds, and they’ll keep developing until you’re roughly 17 years old.
During puberty, your nipples will also alter, turning pink or brown and growing hair on occasion – all of which is normal. Breast size and shape tend to run in families, thus your mother’s breasts can be an excellent predictor of your own. The form and size of your breasts might also be affected by your weight.
Body hair
Hair will begin to grow in new places or thicken in some areas as you progress through puberty. It will develop in your armpits, on your legs, and near your genitals in your pubic area. This hair will start off thin and straight, but as you get older, it will thicken and become curlier.
Menstruation (your ‘period’)
The lining of your uterus thickens with blood each month. If an egg is not fertilized by sperm before it is released by your ovary, it will be lost along with the blood from your uterus. This blood will come out through your vaginal opening. This is referred to as your period.
Despite the appearance of a large amount of blood, each period only produces a few teaspoons. The first day or two of your cycle is usually the most intense, and your period can last up to seven days. The color of your period blood might range from bright to dark red, which is quite normal.
In the first three years, irregular periods are also common, but if your periods are more than three months apart, talk to an adult you trust and schedule an appointment with your doctor. Your doctor can make sure you don’t have any health issues that are interfering with your period.
Other vaginal fluid
When you are not bleeding during your menstrual cycle, the cervix releases various secretions that are clear or creamy in color. You may notice this fluid on your underwear if it is expelled through your vaginal canal.
What kind of physical challenges will I face during puberty?
Menstruation
You may feel physically bloated or have a larger appetite in the days leading up to your period. You may also experience muscle and joint discomfort, as well as stomach ache and exhaustion. Mentally, you may experience anxiety, a depressed mood, and feelings of loneliness. Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a term that covers the physical and emotional symptoms that you may encounter in the days leading up to your period.
Skin changes
Your body creates varying quantities of hormones that alter the glands that govern the oil on your skin during puberty.
Pimples or acne are caused by hyperactive glands in the skin, and as you get older, you may notice that you develop more pimples.
Avoid touching the pimples because this might aggravate them and cause scarring. If you’re concerned about your skin, talk to your doctor about the many options.
Body image
You may feel particularly self-conscious during puberty and compare yourself to others. Even if social media and ads try to convince you otherwise, there is no such thing as a “perfect body.” Take a glance at your friends and family; they all have distinct personalities and come in a variety of forms and sizes.
How do my relationships with others change?
As you become older, you may seek more freedom from your family and want to spend time with your friends. You could wish to hang out with mixed-gender groups or even be in a romantic relationship. If you aren’t interested in romantic relationships, you may have other hobbies, such as sports or music, or you may prefer to spend time with groups of people, which is also okay.
As a parent, how can I stay connected with my teen?
If you’re a parent or caretaker of a teen girl, you may find it difficult to communicate with her. However, it is critical to convey information about what will happen to her body before her first menstruation. Make time to talk about what a period is and how the menstrual cycle works with your child. Explain the physical and emotional changes she will experience during her cycle and how to best prepare for them.
Discussing how to use and dispose of tampons and pads, as well as how to chart her cycle using a calendar so she knows when to expect her next period, are all good ways to help your daughter feel prepared for her period. If you don’t feel comfortable having this conversation with your daughter, she may be able to confide in another trustworthy adult.
