Puberty

Puberty is a natural process that marks the beginning of the sexual reproductive cycle. Though each person may experience it differently, our health care professionals at Atrium Floyd and Harbin Clinic can help answer questions and inform decisions about health, diet and lifestyle as your child goes through puberty.

What is puberty?

Puberty involves a series of hormonally directed changes in the body and brain that lead to sexual and reproductive maturity. The entire progression usually takes about four and a half years, although the range is from one and a half to six years.

Puberty is a natural part of the life cycle, marking when an individual reaches reproductive age, a stage associated with adulthood in many cultures.

What causes puberty?

Puberty is caused when an individual’s hypothalamus causes the pituitary gland to begin releasing sex hormones. This triggers the physiological changes that lead to physical and mental development.

What are the signs of puberty?

Symptoms or signs of puberty are varied and may be shared between biological males and biological females or distinct to a specific sexual identity.

• Female signs of puberty include breast development and a first menstrual period.
• Male signs of puberty include facial hair growth, a deepening voice and the first ejaculation.

Additional signs of puberty in both females and males include:

• Accelerated growth of pubic and armpit hair
• Body odor from the activation of apocrine glands
• Body growth and changes
• Increased need for privacy
• Increased skin oil production
• Mood swings or increased intensity

Are there different types of puberty?

The ways in which an individual may experience puberty varies based on both biological and environmental considerations.

Early puberty or precocious puberty

Early puberty begins before age 8 in girls and age 9 in boys. It can be triggered by genetic factors, early activation of sex glands or the release of sex hormones from tumors.

Delayed puberty

Delayed puberty is the onset of puberty after age 13 for girls and 14 for boys. This can be the product of genetic factors, malnutrition or medical problems.

Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism is an example of biological cause for the delay in puberty, in which the hypothalamus or pituitary glands fail to generate enough hormone signals to begin puberty.

Other experiences of puberty

Most people experience isosexual puberty and develop secondary sexual characteristics of their biological sex. However, a smaller percentage experience heterosexual puberty, which is the onset of sexual characteristics typical of the opposite sex. This is most common in precocious puberty and may be the result of conditions like congenital adrenal hyperplasia.

Other experiences may include a single sign of puberty, like hair growth or menstruation, long before other indicators of puberty arrive. These premature developments can create an experience of puberty different than what some may consider the norm.

Are there ways to manage puberty?

Talk with your child's pediatrician to learn more about what to expect as your child approaches puberty.

Supporting your child through puberty involves valuing communication, setting a good example and establishing fair boundaries. If managing your relationship with your child during this time is difficult, counseling can provide an intermediary for advice and guidance.