Puberty

Puberty is the process of physical changes by which a child's body matures into an adult body
capable of sexual reproduction to enable fertilisation. It can also be defined as when your
emotions and physical body change from that of a girl to that of a woman. The changes happen
because of sex hormones produced by the ovaries in girls.
Differences between male and female puberty
Two of the most significant differences between puberty in girls and puberty in boys are the age
at which it begins, and the major sex steroids involved.
Girls typically begin the process of puberty at age 1 or 11! boys at ages 11"1#.
Girls usually complete puberty by ages 1$"1%, while boys usually complete puberty by
ages 1&"1%.
Girls attain reproductive maturity about ' years after the first physical changes of puberty
appear. In contrast, boys accelerate more slowly but continue to grow for about & years
after the first visible pubertal changes
(or boys, an androgen called testosterone is the principal sex hormone. )hile
testosterone produces all boys' changes characteri*ed. The hormone that dominates
female development is an estrogen called estradiol. +stradiol promotes growth of the
breasts and uterus
Testicular size, penis size, fertility
In boys, testicular enlargement is the first physical manifestation of potential fertility in boys is
reached at 1, years old, but full fertility will not be gained until 1'"1& years of age
-uring puberty, a male's scrotum will become larger and begin to dangle or hang below the body
as opposed to being up tight. This is to accommodate the testicles to hang lower whereby the
testicles need a certain temperature to be fertile and produce sperm. This is collo.uially referred
to as "balls dropping".
Morning wood and random or unwanted erections
/#01 2nce a boy reaches his teenage years, erections occur much more fre.uently due to puberty.
/,1 +rections can occur spontaneously at any time of day, and if clothed may cause a bulge or
3hump
Pubic hair
4ubic hair often appears on a boy shortly after the genitalia begin to grow. The pubic hairs are
usually first visible at the dorsal 5abdominal6 base of the penis. The first few hairs are described
as stage #. 7tage , is usually reached within another &"1# months, when the hairs are too many
to count. 8y stage ', the pubic hairs densely fill the 3pubic triangle.3 7tage $ refers to the spread
of pubic hair to the thighs and upward towards the navel as part of the developing abdominal
hair.
Male musculature and body shape
8y the end of puberty, adult men have heavier bones and nearly twice as much s9eletal muscle.
Body odor and acne
Physical changes in girls
Breast development
Pubic hair
4ubic hair is often the second noticeable change in puberty, usually within a few months of
thelarche.It is referred to as pubarche. The pubic hairs are usually visible first along the labia.
The first few hairs are described as Tanner stage #.7tage , is usually reached within another &"1#
months, when the hairs are too numerous to count and appear on the pubic mound as well. 8y
stage ', the pubic hairs densely fill the 3pubic triangle.3 7tage $ refers to spread of pubic hair to
the thighs and sometimes as abdominal hair upward towards the navel. In about 1$: of girls, the
earliest pubic hair appears before breast development begins.
Vagina, uterus, ovaries
The mucosal surface of the vagina also changes in response to increasing levels of estrogen,
becoming thic9er and duller pin9 in color 5in contrast to the brighter red of the prepubertal
vaginal mucosa6.
the uterus, ovaries, and the follicles in the ovaries increase in si*e. The ovaries usually contain
small follicular cysts visible by ultrasound.
Menstruation and fertility
Body shape, fat distribution, and body composition
the lower half of the pelvis and thus hips widen 5providing a larger birth canal6.
(at tissue increases to a greater percentage of the body composition than in males, especially in
the typical female distribution of breasts, hips, buttoc9s, thighs, upper arms, and pubis.
Body odor and acne
;ising levels of androgens can change the fatty acid composition of perspiration, resulting in a
more 3adult3 body odor.
Variations
Timing of the onset of puberty can be influenced by race, hormones, steroids
and nutrition
What does seuality mean
(eelings or attraction to other people
7exual thoughts and feelings
7exual preferences
Types of seuality
There are a few common labels people use to identify their sexuality. <our sexuality is not
defined by who you have sex with " it=s about how you feel and how you choose to identity
yourself.
!traight. >ttracted mostly to people of the opposite sex or gender.
"ay. >ttracted mostly to people of the same sex or gender 5used by guys, and often girls
too6.
#esbian. >ttracted mostly to people of the same sex or gender 5used by women6.
Biseual. >ttracted to both men and women. 7ome people use terms li9e pan or
pansexual to say they=re attracted to different 9inds of people, regardless of their gender.
$seual. ?ot really sexually attracted to anyone.
!eual health
>ccording to the current wor9ing definition, sexual health is@
ABa state of physical, emotional, mental and social wellCbeing in relation to sexuality! it is not
merely the absence of disease, dysfunction or infirmity. 7exual health re.uires a positive and
respectful approach to sexuality and sexual relationships, as well as the possibility of having
pleasurable and safe sexual experiences, free of coercion, discrimination and violence. (or
sexual health to be attained and maintained, the sexual rights of all persons must be respected,
protected and fulfilled.D (WHO, 2006a)
8eing sexually healthy means that you are free from disease, violence, injury, fear and false
beliefs. It also means that you are comfortable with your sexuality, and have the ability to control
and positively experience your own sexuality and reproduction.
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%unctions of the female reproductive system
The vagina is the female sex organ. It receives the male penis during sexual intercourse, provides
the passageway for menstrual blood during menstruation, and serves as the birth canal for fetal
The ovaries have two functions@ they produce eggs 5also called ova6 and female hormones. The
si*e of each ovary is about 1.$ inches long.
To hold urine The bladder is a sort of pouch found in the end of the genitoCurinarian tract. Its
function is to retain the urine of the body until it can be released to the urethra and out of the
bodyto hold urin, it's sort of a pouch. >nd nerves in your bladder tell you when it's time to
urinate.
The rectum's purpose is to contain stool until it can be released through the anus at a convenient
time.
Egg tubes (Oviduct)
The egg tube, also called the fallopian tube or oviduct, is the vessel through which
egg cell travels to the uterus. Each ovary is connected to the uterus by an egg tube.
Remember what we said about a mature egg being released every month at the
menstruation lesson? es, there are very tiny hairs in the fallopian tube called cilia,
which aids in the smooth passage of the mature egg to the uterus.
Ovaries
!omen (females) are born with hundreds of undeveloped female egg cells or ova
(one is called ovum). These eggs are stored in the ovaries and released every
month, after puberty. "nused eggs dissolve and pass out during menstruation.
"terus (latin word for womb)
This bag is li#e an inverted pear, held in place by
ligaments and muscle. $t has very soft lining, which holds
the fertili%ed egg and nurtures it till it is a fully developed
baby.
The &ervi'
The cervi' is a ring of muscle located at the lower third
portion of the uterus. $t forms a barrier between the
uterus and the vagina. "ntil birth, the baby is held in place by the cervi'. (uring
birth, the cervi' e'pands and the baby passes through it.
The )agina
The vagina is an elastic, muscular canal that connects the cervi' to the outside of
the woman*s body. $t is the tube that receives the penis of the man during a se'ual
intercourse. (uring menstruation, it is the same tube through which the blood +ows
out
The male reproductive system
%unctions of the male reproductive system
,perm duct
(uring se'ual intercourse, sperm cells released pass through the sperm ducts.
Testes
There are two testes (one of them is called a testis). These are held in place by the
scrotum (scrotal sac#s). The scrotum is a bag of tough s#in. The -ob of the testes is
to produce millions of male se' cells called sperm and also to ma#e male se'
hormones. This is a simple diagram of how a sperm cell loo#s under a microscope.
,perm cells loo# a lot li#e tadpoles (under a microscope). (uring puberty, a boy*s
hormones a.ect the way his body develops.
/rostate gland
The -ob of the prostate gland is to secrete prostate +uid, one of the components of
semen. The mi'ture of sperm and +uids is called semen. The muscles of the
prostate gland also help propel this seminal +uid through the urethra and into the
vagina during e-aculation .
The urethra
This is the tube inside the penis that carries urine or semen. $t is the continuing part
of the sperm duct.
The /enis
This is that 0thing* hanging in front of every male which he pees with. The si%e of the
penis di.ers a lot for growing boys because they develop di.erently. 1n erect penis
for an adult man may be about 2.3inches in length (average). The -ob of the penis is
to pass urine out of the man4s body and to pass semen into the vagina of a woman
during se'ual intercourse.
The AproperD terms for our genitalia are AvaginaD 5women6 and ApenisD 5men6. Een and women
each have many internal organs whose purpose is reproduction 5baby ma9ing6, as you can see in
the diagrams on this website. In fact, the primary biological purpose of sex is reproduction. 2ur
bodies are very much based in functionality. 2n the other hand, we all 9now that the majority of
the time, when we have sex, it won=t be to reproduce. It will most li9ely be sex that falls in the
recreational category " for the fun of it, or to express our love or deep connection to our partner.
-oes that mean that our reproductive functions turn off unless we want to use themJ )e all
9now that our intentions when we have sex do nothing to control whether or not a pregnancy is
the result of that sex. If that were the case, there would probably be no accidental pregnancies.
7o, when we choose to engage in heterosexual sex 5sex with a partner born of the opposite
gender6, we should always be aware that it might result in pregnancy 5also being aware of the
ris9 of 7T-K7TI6. Those engaging in homosexual sex 5sex with a partner born of the same sex6 it
is still important to do so responsibly. )hile the ris9 of pregnancy has been removed, you still
must be conscious of the possibility of getting an 7T- 5sexually transmitted disease6 or 7TI
5sexually transmitted infection6. If now is not the best time for either partner to become a parent,
then some method of birth control should be used to protect both yourself and your partner from
unintended pregnancy. It is also important to discuss protection from 7T-K7TI with your partner.
8arrier methods of birth control 5such as condoms6 are best for protection from 7T-K7TI.