Puberty

Puberty is the phase when the body starts to develop certain features like change in the reproductive system. In this phase the human body progresses from the child to the adult stage. During puberty many hormones are generated and these hormones are responsible for the growth of different parts of the body.

The following changes occur in puberty stage:
Physical changes – like growth of breasts in girls and penis size in boys
Physiological changes – teenagers usually get aggressive and moody
Behavioural changes – some may want to experiment different things and expose themselves to dangers of drinking alcohol, smoking and sex

Most of the girls usually begin puberty between the age of 8 and 13 years. Boys tend to reach puberty at a later stage, usually 10 to 15 years.

Symptoms

Physical changes –
Girls and boys have distinct changes and have different developmental changes. They are called Tanner stages. Tanner stages for girls are explained below:

Tanner stage one – here the body gets ready for puberty and so there will be some changes taking place inside the body. These changes occur between age 8 to 10 years. In this stage the height will increase, the ovaries will start growing and the nipples will slightly swell.

Tanner stage two – this stage will be the beginning of proper puberty and it normally begins at the age of 11. Pubic hair will begin to grow and the area around the nipples, areola, will swell. In this stage the clitoris and the uterus will grow in size.

Tanner stage three – this stage is reached after crossing 12 years. In this stage the areola will swell further and one may have to start using a bra. The pubic hair will grow thicker and curlier and the armpits start growing hair too.

Tanner stage four – this stage begins at the age of 13 and the breasts begin to grow further. They start having periods at this stage and by the end of the stage they will have regular periods. They also stop growing in height at this stage.

Tanner stage five – in the final stage the pubic hair would have spread to the inner thigh and the girl’s genitalia will be fully developed.

Tanner stages for boys are:

Tanner stage one – the adrenal gland will trigger an increase in body height.

Tanner stage two – the scrotom will redden and will become thin. The size of the testicles will also increase and pubic hair begins to grow.

Tanner stage three – the length of the penis will grow and the testicles will continue growing. The pubis hair is now more mature. You will have wet dreams and your voice will break; both are perfectly normal things to happen.

Tanner stage four – the scrotum will change its tome to a darker shade and there is further growth of testicles and penis.

Tanner stage five – the genitals would have grown to its full size and pubic hair would have spread to inner thighs. There will also be facial hair and one has to being shaving.

Causes

causes of puberty may be genetic or hormonal.