Puberty Changes in Boys and Girls

1. Puberty Changes in Boys and Girls Puberty Puberty is defined as the period during which boys or girls undergo major sexual maturation. It involves a series of stages or steps which lead to attainment of fertility and allows the development of secondary sex characteristics and physical body changes. Along with a series of biological or physical transformations, puberty also involves major psychosocial and emotional development in an adolescent. When does Puberty occur? The onset of puberty varies among individuals. Puberty usually occurs in girls during 10-14 years, while in boys it occurs much later, between 12-16 years. Nowadays, it is observed that adolescent girls reach puberty at an early age than the usual scenario. Nutritional and other environmental factors majorly influence these changes. Common Physical Changes during Puberty Some common physical changes that occur in both boys and girls are as follows: Secondary sex changes At puberty, major hormonal changes occur which leads to the growth and development of their reproductive organs. A series of these predictable physical changes were observed and studied by several scientific groups. They classified the sexual changes as secondary sex characteristics, which

2. includes breast development and menstrual cycle in females, pubic hair growth in both genders and genital development in males. A major change in girls involves initiation of menstrual cycle and breast growth during puberty. Girls particularly need to take a great care of their reproductive organs if they observe any unusual sign such as delayed menstruation, excessive emotional outburst or appearance of spots on their breasts. These conditions may increase the risk of complications such as breast cancer in later stages in some cases. Read about breast cancer symptoms. Bone growth In females, approximately 50% of their lifetime total body calcium is deposited into bones during puberty period. Whereas in case of males, 50%-65% of lifetime total body calcium is laid down. Males have approximately 50% more total body calcium than females. It has been observed that both girls and boys experience an increase in their bone width followed by mineralization with calcium. Such a disparity between increase in size of bones and strength of bones may explain the reason behind increased incidence of bone fractures during adolescence. The importance of calcium intake via dairy products and other common sources is to maximize bone calcification in teenagers. Weight gain Both males and females gain weight due to somatic growth and bone mineralization. Early pubertal changes in boys involve reduction of fat mass which is usually followed during the last one-third part of puberty by gaining major muscle mass.

3. In adolescent girls, most of the weight gain is due to the accumulation of fat molecules. This mainly occurs in breasts, upper arms, back, and thigh region. Physical changes in girls during puberty In girls, the pubertal sequences of events are as follows: Initial breast elevation Beginning of growth spurt Appearance of pubic hair Increased size of uterus, vagina, labia, clitoris Breast development Peak of growth spurt Menstruation Attainment of adult height Completion of breast development Completion of pubic hair growth Physical changes in boys during puberty In boys, the pubertal sequence of events involves: Enlargement of testes Changes in texture and color of scrotum Increased penis size Appearance of pubic hair First ejaculation Peak of growth spurt Growth of facial hair Increased size of larynx and vocal chords affect his voice Completion of penis growth

4. Attainment of adult height Completion of pubic hair growth Emotional Changes during Puberty Both boys and girls experience major emotional changes. These emotional changes are not the same in all adolescents. Changes can occur depending upon the way a teen may respond to his/her family or friends and views him- or her. Many adolescents experience some common emotional changes such as anxiety, confusion, mood swings and sensitivity. All emotional changes during puberty are not related to negative thoughts or upset feeling. Puberty also involves a period of self knowledge; he/she learns about their interests and goals and learns to relate to others in a more mature manner.