Puberty is when the body becomes sexually mature. Lots of changes happen during puberty and these changes are different for boys and girls. Puberty usually starts between the ages of 8 and 14 years, but girls often start puberty before boys do. Because there is a wide range in ages when puberty can start and it doesn’t happen all at once, boys of the same age can look different, and so can girls. This is normal.
Both boys and girls will experience changes such hair growing in their armpits and around their genitals (pubic hair), and some may also get acne or pimples on their face and body.
Girls will grow taller and their hips will widen. They start to develop breasts and then will start menstruating. Once a girl has started menstruating, she needs to know that having sex can lead to pregnancy.
Boys will grow taller and notice their testicles are getting bigger. After that, their penis starts to get bigger. As the penis enlarges, boys may begin to have erections, which is completely normal.
Boys start to grow hair on their face and their voice starts to get deeper. During puberty, a boy's body also begins making sperm. Sometimes boys will ejaculate while they are sleeping. This is called a wet dream and is a normal part of puberty. Once a boy has experienced ejaculation, he needs to know that having sex can get someone pregnant.
For most girls, puberty usually begins when they are around 9 years of age and usually lasts until they are 14 to 16 years of age. For most boys, puberty usually begins when they are around 10 years of age and lasts until they are 15 to 16 years of age.
Early puberty is when a girl has signs of puberty before 8 years of age and a boy before 9 years of age. Sometimes this just runs in families and is normal, other times it might be a symptom of a disease or disorder.
Puberty is later than normal when a girl hasn’t started to develop breasts by 14 years of age, or she has developed breasts but her periods haven’t started by 16 years of age. Puberty is later than normal when a boy has no signs of his testicles developing or his penis getting bigger by 14 years of age, and there is no hair growing around his genital area by the age of 15 years of age.
Boys going through puberty may experience a wet dream, or nocturnal emission. A wet dream is when a boy ejaculates while he is sleeping. Sometimes he’ll wake up from a wet dream, but other times he’ll sleep through it. Some boys may feel really embarrassed or guilty about having a wet dream, but there is nothing to be ashamed of. They are a normal and natural part of growing up and can’t be stopped from happening. Wet dreams can continue into adulthood, although they happen less often.
The menstrual cycle helps prepare the body for pregnancy. If a female egg is not fertilized by a man’s sperm, then some of the lining of the uterus breaks down and leaves the body through vagina. This is called menstruation or a period.
A menstrual cycle is counted as the time between the first day of a period and the first day of the next period. The average menstrual cycle is 28 days, but a normal cycle can be anywhere between 25 and 33 days. An irregular cycle is less than 21 days or more than 35 days.
Irregular periods are common in the first two years as a girl’s body adjusts to the changes that come with puberty. The menstrual cycle usually becomes regular with time. Some lifestyle changes such as stress, too much exercise or significant weight loss or gain can cause girls to miss their periods. Less often, medical conditions can cause periods to be irregular or stop completely.
It’s normal for a period to last from 2 to 7 days. During this time, the blood flow can be light, normal or heavy. Mostly this is normal.
Some girls may experience heavy menstrual flow when they need to change their sanitary napkin after less than 2 hours. Some girls may experience long periods, more than 7 days. Both these can lead to anemia which leaves them feeling weak and tired all the time. It’s worthwhile having a checkup with a healthcare provider to find out why this is happening and what treatments might help.
Before a period, a girl may experience pre-menstrual symptoms, which can be both physical and emotional. Physical symptoms may include having swollen and tender breasts, feeling bloated, having a headache, getting pimples, feeling tired and having swollen feet and aching joints. Emotional changes can include feeling sad, depressed, irritable or anxious, having mood swings and crying easily. These are all normal symptoms as the body goes through hormonal and physical changes.
It is normal for many girls and women to suffer from pain and discomfort during her period. Abdominal pain is common. It is caused by the muscles of the uterus tightening or cramping. The pain usually last for 48 to 72 hours, but it can last longer. A heat pad placed on the stomach can help. Doing some exercise can also help. For some people, period pain can be severe and may affect their daily activities. Nausea, fatigue, feeling faint and general discomfort during menstruation are other symptoms.
Sanitary napkins (pads) are used for good hygiene. Pads are rectangles of absorbent material that line the inside of underwear and soak up menstrual blood. Pads need to be changed regularly, no later than every eight hours. On days when menstrual flow is heavy, a pad might need to be changed every two to four hours.
Some pads are made out of disposable materials and are thrown away after one use. These types of pads should be put in a bin with a lid on it or buried so that other people or animals can’t come into contact with them. Some pads are made out of fabric. These pads should be washed with detergent and dried in a place where they are exposed to sunshine and fresh air. These types of pads should not be dried in the bathroom as they could become contaminated with bacteria or fungus.
Mood changes are normal because of hormone changes in the body. If you’re worried about your mood changes, start tracking your mood throughout your menstrual cycle in a diary. This diary will help you to understand your emotions and would be helpful if you want to consult a healthcare provider. A good diet and exercise brings lots of benefits, and can be helpful during menstruation as well. Some studies have shown that exercise can reduce both physical and emotional symptoms of menstruation.
Sex and gender are two different things, although they are often confused.
Sex refers to the physical differences between people who are born male, female or intersex. A person’s sex is usually assigned at birth, based on their physiological characteristics including gonads (testes and ovaries), hormones and chromosomes.
Gender is socially constructed. This means that a society has defined roles and behaviours for men and women that are acceptable (gender norms). These can change over time.
Gender identity relates to how a person identifies internally, regardless of what sex they were assigned at birth. For example, a person who was assigned male at birth (because they had testes and an X and Y chromosome) might feel they are more aligned with a female identity. LBGTQI is an acronym describing different sexual orientations and gender identities. It stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex. Sometimes it is written LGBTQI+ to include other orientations and identities.
Young men and women should have the right to receive sexual and reproductive health information and services wherever they live. Women should have the right to make their own decisions about marriage, sexual activity and pregnancy. Children and young people should have the right to participate decisions about what affects their lives and be able to express their opinions. They should have the right to have access to education and information, and the right to be protected from abuse and exploitation.
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