Puberty Flashcards
Puberty…
period of time when children start to change physically and emotionally as they become adults
when girls and boys develop secondary sexual characteristics and become capable of reproducing
average age on when a girl hits puberty?
10 - 14 years old
average age on when a boy hits puberty?
12 - 16 years old
How long does puberty normally last on average?
about 4 years.
Describe some changes in boys during puberty?
· The testicles get bigger and the scrotum begins to get thinner and change to a darker, redder colour. The penis will also grow.
· Start to grow pubic hair, underarm hair and facial hair (moustache and beard).
· May have ‘wet dreams’ (ejaculations of semen while you are sleeping).
· Voice ‘breaks’ – it becomes deeper, but while this is happening there may be times when it is very deep one minute then high pitched the next.
· Growth spurt and become more muscular.
· Breast tissue can swell temporarily – this is normal and will not stay like this.
· May have ‘mood swings’ as they try to cope with all the changes that are happening to their bodies and the different levels of hormones in the body that are causing them.
Describe some changes in girls during puberty?
· Start to develop breasts.
· Start to grow pubic hair and underarm hair.
· Start to menstruate or ‘have periods’.
· Growth spurt, gaining weight and change of body shape – rounder hips, narrower waist and more body fat along the upper arms, thighs and upper back.
· May have ‘mood swings’ as they try to cope with all the changes that are happening to their bodies and the different levels of hormones in the body that are causing them.
