Puberty

Testosterone

the most important of the male sex hormones. Both males and females have it, but the additional testosterone in males allows for the development of the male sex characteristics during puberty

Puberty

the physical changes that occur in the body as a child develops into an adult

Differences between male and female puberty (2)

*A girl's puberty general spans from the ages of 9 to 14. *A boy's puberty generally spans from the ages of 10 to 17. *Testosterone and androgen are the main male sex steroids. *Estrogen and estradiol are the main hormones that drive female development.

Differences between male and female puberty (1)

*Girls start puberty about one to two years earlier than boys. *Girls' generally complete puberty in a shorter time than boys. *Girls reach adult height and reproductive maturity approximately 4 years after the physical changes of puberty appear. *Boys continue to grow for about 6 years after the first visible changes of puberty.

Estrogen

A sex hormone, secreted in greater amounts by females than by males. The additional estrogen in females allows for the development of the female sex characteristics during puberty.

Hormones

Chemical signals Chemical substances that help regulate many of your body's functions

Physical changes during puberty for girls

Hips become wider, Pubic hair on pubic area, breasts develop, menstruation begins, oily skin/acne, vaginal discharge.

Social change during puberty

Peer pressure & wanting to spend more time with friends.

Physical changes during puberty for boys

Shoulders get wider, oily skin/acne/pimples, muscles become bigger, voice gets deeper, genitals become larger, facial hair, underarm hair, hair on pubic area, breast enlargement.

Physical changes for both girls and boys during puberty

Underarm hair, oily skin/acne/ pimples, growth in weight and height, mood swings, greasy hair, hair on pubic area.

Emotional change during puberty- girls

a girl's emotions may change, especially around the time her period comes each month. These emotional roller-coaster type changes, which may include irritability, are mainly due to fluctuating hormone levels that occur during the menstrual cycle.

Emotional change during puberty- boys

boys may experience mood swings; one moment they are laughing and then they suddenly feel like crying. Boys may also experience intense feelings of anger.This is partly due to the increased levels of hormones in their body, as well as the psychological aspects of coming to terms with all the physical changes that are taking place

Triggers of puberty

experts believe environmental and/or genetic factors trigger puberty - even environmental toxins. Nutritional factors are also important, especially for girls. Overweight or obese girls tend to experience earlier puberty, compared to girls of normal weight, while underweight girls tend to start puberty later.