Some girls go through puberty not quite understanding what their bodies are going through at this time. Knowing certain facts about puberty may help a girl deal with it without worry or concern that something abnormal is happening to her body. A girl needs to know that puberty is an important change that makes her a woman who may someday get pregnant and bear a child.
Facts
Mood swings usually occur during puberty. Acne may become a problem during puberty due to sweat and oil glands that are more productive at this time. A girl's hips get wider during puberty, and a girl may see an increase of fat at this time. A girl's vocal cords increase in thickness and in length during puberty. A first period, which is a sign of puberty, is referred to as "menarche." Irregular periods are common the first two years after the onset of menstruation.
Significance
When a girl reaches puberty she experiences an important change in her life. Puberty means maturing sexually and experiencing all the physical and emotional changes that occur during this time. It is a transition that makes a young woman capable of getting pregnant, and it can be an exciting but troublesome time for some girls. A girl who knows what to expect may be better able to cope with puberty than one who is uninformed about it.
Timing
It is common for a girl to start puberty at the age of 9. In unusual cases a girl may start experiencing puberty at the age of 6. Girls who start puberty at this young age are categorized as having precocious puberty. Some girls may start puberty as late as 16 years old.
Hormones
The brain plays an important part in the onset of puberty. When an area in the brain called the hypothalamus starts to release the hormone identified as gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH), another gland in the brain called the pituitary (also called the "master gland") starts releasing hormones called luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). The release of these hormones causes a girl's body to mature.
Changes
The changes a girl experiences when she goes through puberty are both physical and emotional. A girl's brain will start to mature at this time, enabling her to have a better understanding of complicated issues. She will also start to show signs of independence. Changes occur inside a girl's body as well when she is going through puberty. Her ovaries will start to produce additional hormones that will cause her to menstruate every month, and an egg will be released from her ovaries for fertilization. Externally, a girl's breasts will begin to develop and hair will start to grow in the pubic area. Hair will also start to grow under the arms and on the legs. A girl will grow in height more quickly from the age of 9 to 13, and her body will take on a more womanly shape.
