A girl's body goes through dramatic changes during puberty. Know what to expect so you can prepare your daughter in advance.
Body size & proportions:
There is a rapid increase in height and weight just before menarche (first menstruation) which slows down afterwards. Growth stops around 18 years.
During adolescence, legs are disproportionately long and nose, feet and hands seem too big. Assure her that her features will balance out, muscles increase in size and strength, giving a rounded shape to shoulders arms and legs.
Primary Sex Characteristics:
The internal reproductory organs (uterus & ovaries) grow rapidly.
Menstruation begins most often between the age of 11 and 13, but there are wide variations in age. A girl may have her first period as early as 9 or as late as 18, so she must be told about menstruation by the age of nine. The first menstruation can be very traumatic for a girl if she is unprepared. Periods are likely to be irregular for a year of two. Girls should be told about the need for good personal hygiene and how to use sanitary protection. Explain that increased white vaginal discharge is normal.
Secondary Sex Characteristics:
Hips become wider and round in shape.
Breasts begin to develop after the hips start to enlarge. Nipples enlarge and then breasts become larger and rounder. (At this stage girls may continually wonder why hips/breasts can't be larger or smaller-this is normal adolescent behaviour.)
Hair: Pubic hair appears after breasts and hips have developed. Underarm and facial hair appears after puberty.
Skin becomes coarser and thicker and pores enlarge. The oil glands become more active which could result in acne (pimples) and hair could become oily too. The apocrine glands in the armpits produce perspiration. From now on body odour could become a problem and your teenager must take extra care when bathing.
Voice: A girl?s voice becomes fuller and more melodious.
Girls may become self-conscious or worry when their development is slower or faster than that of their peers. Listen with understanding when your daughter shares her worries, but reassure her that there is a wide range in the age of maturing and that she is definitely "normal".
Body size & proportions:
There is a rapid increase in height and weight just before menarche (first menstruation) which slows down afterwards. Growth stops around 18 years.
During adolescence, legs are disproportionately long and nose, feet and hands seem too big. Assure her that her features will balance out, muscles increase in size and strength, giving a rounded shape to shoulders arms and legs.
Primary Sex Characteristics:
The internal reproductory organs (uterus & ovaries) grow rapidly.
Menstruation begins most often between the age of 11 and 13, but there are wide variations in age. A girl may have her first period as early as 9 or as late as 18, so she must be told about menstruation by the age of nine. The first menstruation can be very traumatic for a girl if she is unprepared. Periods are likely to be irregular for a year of two. Girls should be told about the need for good personal hygiene and how to use sanitary protection. Explain that increased white vaginal discharge is normal.
Secondary Sex Characteristics:
Hips become wider and round in shape.
Breasts begin to develop after the hips start to enlarge. Nipples enlarge and then breasts become larger and rounder. (At this stage girls may continually wonder why hips/breasts can't be larger or smaller-this is normal adolescent behaviour.)
Hair: Pubic hair appears after breasts and hips have developed. Underarm and facial hair appears after puberty.
Skin becomes coarser and thicker and pores enlarge. The oil glands become more active which could result in acne (pimples) and hair could become oily too. The apocrine glands in the armpits produce perspiration. From now on body odour could become a problem and your teenager must take extra care when bathing.
Voice: A girl?s voice becomes fuller and more melodious.
Girls may become self-conscious or worry when their development is slower or faster than that of their peers. Listen with understanding when your daughter shares her worries, but reassure her that there is a wide range in the age of maturing and that she is definitely "normal".
