What are the signs of puberty for a girl?

Puberty in females

Puberty is defined as the age stage in which a girl matures sexually, and puberty is usually in the period between 10-14 years of age, ^[1] where this stage is represented by many changes Physical size, shape, composition, and physical structure, in addition to changes in the internal organs, and this stage may be associated with psychological and social changes and fluctuations. ^[2]

To learn more about puberty, you can read the following article: ( What is the age of puberty ) .

To learn more about the age of puberty in females, you can read the following article: ( Information on puberty for girls ) .

Signs of puberty in females

Signs of puberty in females appear as a successive series of changes, and they appear at an early age in them compared to the age of puberty in males of the same age, and in fact these changes may differ and the time or size of their occurrence varies from one girl to another, so that they may occur in some girls It is earlier or later than other girls, but this does not mean that there are problems in the event that puberty is slightly delayed or the size of the changes varies, because this is due to the hormonal changes in the girl’s body on which the different signs of sexual and physical maturity depend, and each of these signs can be explained With some vocalization as follows: ^[3]

Breast enlargement

The growth of the breasts is one of the first signs that appear on girls during puberty, ^[1] and this change begins with noticing a slight swelling at the bottom of the nipples, and this stage is known as breast buds. The skin is stretched, and a rapid increase in volume may lead to stretch marks But it quickly disappears with the passage of time, and in fact the increase in breast size continues and this is related to the increase in fatty mass in the girl’s body during puberty, as the breast grows to become more full and rounder, and changes may occur to the surrounding aura With the nipples, they increase in size and become a darker color, and the nipple may be erect or may remain in place, and it should be noted that in some cases one breast may grow at a faster rate than the other, but this is normal and does not cause concern because after a period of time they usually equal In size, but it must be noted that sometimes there may remain a slight difference in size between the breasts despite the end of puberty, and this is normal as well because it depends on the growth of fat cells and the increase in the total weight of the body, which may differ in nature over the years. ^[4]

Excessive hair growth

Hair growth differs from one girl to another, pubic hair and underarm hair may grow at the same time after the breasts start to grow in some girls, or pubic hair may start to grow before the breasts start to grow sometimes, and in some cases pubic hair may begin to grow first in girls, This is followed by the growth of hair under the armpit at the end of puberty, and in fact the hair in the beginning is made of fine hairs in small numbers, but it soon increases in density and becomes more wrinkled with age, ^[5] in addition to that some females may notice excessive hair growth in Some parts of the body, such as the upper lip, which is normal. ^[6]

Changes in body shape

It is normal for most girls to gain weight during adulthood with the change in their body shape, due to the occurrence of changes in the shape of the body such as an increase in height and weight, where the weight increases in adulthood by approximately seven kilograms or more, which is the amount that corresponds to the normal growth rate and body shape change Females during that period, so that this extra weight is usually distributed in the arms, thighs, and upper back, and the hips become more rounded, in addition to the waist becoming more narrow, and most of the time the increase in weight is not a cause for concern. The increase is large, so it is recommended to see a medical care provider, and you can follow a healthy diet and do some regular exercise that helps to reach the appropriate weight for body size. ^[6] [7]

Sweating and acne

As mentioned previously, the stage of puberty is represented by the occurrence of several hormonal changes. Where the production of some new hormones affects the sebaceous glands (Sebaceous Glands) and the sweat glands located under the skin, and in this context it is worth noting that the sebaceous glands naturally produce a natural oily substance known as sebum. Sebum to maintain the freshness of the skin, but what happens in adulthood is that hormones increase the activity of the sebaceous glands that produce sebum, so these glands grow and increase in size and thus the secretion of sebum increases, which is often thick so that it flows slowly, which leads to the closure of The pores in the skin form pimples, which when inflamed severely develop into what is known as acne, and teenage girls can suffer from pimples or acne or both for several years, which may require resorting to treatment to get rid of them, and on the other hand, hormone secretion during puberty affects the sweat glands, which increases the rate of sweating, In addition to the unpleasant odor of sweat due to the bacteria on the skin that work to produce body odor. ^[8]

A growth spurt

Most girls go through a stage in which a growth spurt occurs, so that growth becomes rapid during that period of time, and often precedes the start of the menstrual cycle by one year, and at this stage an increase in height ranging between 5 centimeters to 20 centimeters may be noticed. And growth usually stops two years after the start of the menstrual cycle, and it is worth noting that the growth spurt includes an increase in the length and breadth of hands and feet, and in fact the feet may grow faster than other puberty changes or their growth may end before these changes appear. ^{[5] [7]}

Vaginal secretions

Due to the hormonal changes that a girl undergoes in adulthood, she may notice the body secreting some vaginal discharges before her first menstrual period, ranging from six months to a year, which help maintain the health of the vagina, and these secretions vary in density and color. And the amount secreted from one girl to another, where the density of secretions ranges from thin to sticky, while their color ranges from colorless to white secretions, and the amount of secreted material may depend on the stage the girl is going through in her menstrual cycle, and it should be noted that vaginal secretions Normally, it does not smell unpleasant and does not cause itching or burning, and sometimes normal vaginal secretions can irritate the skin due to moisture. ^[9]

The menstrual cycle

The first menstrual period, or what is called menstruation, usually begins in females after two to two and a half years from the onset of the first stages of puberty, which is usually the start of the growth of the breasts as mentioned earlier, as most girls begin their menstrual cycle at the age of 12-13 Approximately one year of age, but in some cases menstruation can begin as early as 9 years old or as late as 15 years, ^[5]The menstrual cycle lasts between two to eight days and is repeated every 21-35 days approximately, and the 28-day cycle is common, and usually occurs once a month, but it often takes some time before the menstrual cycle is regular, as it must be noted The menstrual cycle in the first few years may not be regular, as it continues in this way until the body adapts to the rapid physiological changes that the female undergoes, and the secretions of the menstrual cycle differ among females at the beginning of puberty, blood may appear bright red in some of them, in When the secretions are reddish-brown in others, and both are normal, and usually accompanied by the period of the menstrual cycle, pain and cramps in the abdomen, which sometimes calls for analgesic drugs such as ibuprofen or naproxen , and it is worth seeing a doctor if the pain is severe and cannot be tolerated. In fact, parents are usually advised to educate their daughters about the menstrual cycle and that it is a normal stage that all girls go through and begins with puberty and does not cause concern, and the girl must be given confidence in asking any questions or inquiries. Relate to menstruation or adulthood as a whole.^{[5] [10]}

Psychological and social changes

Mood changes and energy level differences are a normal part of puberty, with most adolescent girls going through adulthood with many mood swings and psychological changes, or what is known as psychological development.This includes the fluctuations between the feeling of independence and responsibility on the one hand and the desire to support and support parents and them on the other hand, in addition to identifying identity through trying new things and friendships, knowing that a girl can face a challenge in how to manage current friendships, and one of the most important things that Puberty is characterized by a feeling of independence, which is usually represented by the desire of adolescence to experience things that feel responsible, such as running for a leadership position in school or the desire to work in a part-time job, and one of the things that a girl may suffer from in adulthood is sensitivity to the external appearance And the physical changes that you go through, including acne and body odor, which may be embarrassing. These social and emotional changes show the building of the future girl’s personality, the way she makes various decisions, and the way of thinking in a conscious and independent manner, ^[6]This stage may also include experiencing unexplained mood swings, low self-esteem, aggression , and feeling depressed . ^[11]

Other changes

There are many other changes that occur in adulthood in girls, which can be explained as follows:

• Brain changes: Changes in a girl's brain affect her behavior and social skills, as she begins to develop self-control and control, and improve planning, problem-solving and decision-making skills, as this continues until her mid-twenties. ^[12]
• Body systems, internal organs, and bones: as many organs enlarge and become stronger, lungs function improves, limbs grow, bone thickness and density increase, ^[12] in addition to the increase in the size of the uterus (womb) and ovaries in females. ^[13]
• Physical strength: The physical strength of the girl increases at this stage due to the increase in muscle strength and size, in addition to improving hand-eye coordination over time, as well as improving motor skills such as throwing the ball and catching it. ^[12]
• Change in sleep-related habits: the timing of circadian rhythms changes in adulthood, such as a change in sleep habits The time in which a girl feels sleepy changes, which is before puberty between eight or nine in the evening, but in adulthood, the girl begins to feel sleepy between the hours of ten or eleven, and the reason for this is to suffer from insomnia and at the beginning it is She has difficulty sleeping at the usual time, but she can do so at a later time, but this delay affects the sufficient and necessary sleep hours, which are estimated at nine hours per day, so that it is difficult for the teenager to wake up in the morning to go to school; So it is important to sleep on time. ^[14]

The reasons for seeing a doctor

It should be noted that you should see a doctor if signs of puberty early or late age emerged from the normal time, ^[15] and in the above statement in some detail: comes ^[16]

• Delayed puberty: Delayed puberty is expressed in two cases, either by delay of the onset of breast growth beyond the age of 14 years of age, or in the event that the menstrual cycle is delayed for five years or more after the start of breast growth, and the delay in puberty may sometimes be due to medical reasons Including malnutrition (Malnutrition) resulting from not eating the correct food in the required quantities.
• Precocious puberty:Girls sometimes show early signs of puberty, such as the appearance of pubic hair or a change in body odor, in addition to the growth of the breasts, which may be due most of the time to the growth of fatty tissue, and therefore it cannot be considered as the growth of the breasts, and in fact there are many factors that are believed Together, they lead to the emergence of these simple signs of puberty, including genetic factors, environmental factors, and individual factors such as the weight of a girl at this stage; The fact that these signs appear is not considered abnormal or something to be concerned about; As their emergence does not require medical intervention, but rather matters related to the normal growth and physical changes that the girl undergoes, and on the other hand, early puberty may indicate the presence of medical problems in the girl, and puberty can be considered early if it begins before the age of 7-8 years in girls And it is worth seeing a doctor in the event that the breast grows gradually for a period of 4-6 months, and this is accompanied by the rapid growth of the body in general. From treatments that stop the effect of female hormones for a certain period; Especially if the imbalance may cause problems later in life, such as weak or weak bonesLack of growth .

Parents' role in overcoming adulthood

Parents have a great role in helping the girl to overcome the stage of puberty, which often begins earlier than parents expect, and this role is represented by talking with the girl and making her aware of the stages of puberty and the natural bodily things and changes that will go through, which are stimulated by the body's production of hormones , Parents must pay attention to all the physical changes that the girl undergoes while maintaining leaving a personal space for her, respecting her privacy and avoiding harassment, and reminding the girl that each person has different attainment rates than other girls, as was explained earlier in the article, and since most girls feel self-conscious during During this period, they may feel embarrassed if they talk about the changing shape of their bodies and their general appearance during that period. ^[17]

References

1. ^ ^{A b} "Puberty" , Medlineplus.gov , Retrieved 22-3-2020. Edited.
2. ↑ "What is puberty all about?" , www.medicalnewstoday.com , Retrieved 22-3-2020. Edited.
3. ↑ "The Growing Child: Teenager (13 to 18 Years)" , www.stanfordchildrens.org , Retrieved 22-3-2020. Edited.
4. ↑ "Breast Development" , www.texaschildrens.org , Retrieved 3-22-2020. Edited.
5. ^ ^{A b t w} "Puberty" , Youngwomenshealth.org , Retrieved 23-3-2020. Edited.
6. ^ ^{A b v} "Stages Of Puberty: What Happens To Boys And girls View " , Www.nhs.uk , Retrieved 23-3-2020. Edited.
7. ^ ^{A b} "In Puberty Gender : Girls" , Www.drugs.com , Retrieved 23-3-2020. Edited.
8. ↑ "Girls & Puberty" , webcache.googleusercontent.com , Retrieved 3-26-2020. Edited.
9. ↑ "I've Never Had My Period, So What's This Discharge?" , kidshealth.org , Retrieved 26-3-2020. Edited.
10. ↑ "Physical Development in Girls: What to Expect During Puberty" , www.healthychildren.org , Retrieved 26-3-2020. Edited.
11. ↑ "Parenting children through puberty" , www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au , Retrieved 27-3-2020. Edited.
12. ^ ^{A b v} " the Physical Changes In Puberty: girls View And Boys" , Raisingchildren.net.au , Retrieved 27-3-2020. Edited.
13. ↑ "Puberty for girls" , www.healthdirect.gov.au , Retrieved 27-3-2020. Edited.
14. ↑ "Sleep and Teens" , www.uclahealth.org , Retrieved 27-3-2020. Edited.
15. ↑ "Puberty" , www.healthofchildren.com , Retrieved 27-3-2020. Edited.
16. ↑ "For Parents: What to Expect When Your Child Goes Through Puberty" , familydoctor.org , Retrieved 3/27-2020. Edited.
17. ↑ "How to Talk to Your Adolescent Girl About her Body" , my.clevelandclinic.org , Retrieved 3-28-2020. Edited.