Puberty Flashcards
1
Q
What is Puberty?
A
- Puberty is when a child begins to change into an adult.
- Girls start from 8-14 years of age (average 11) and lasts about 4 years.
- Boys puberty starts around 9-14 years but takes around 6 years to reach sexual maturity.
- During this time many changes happen to the body physically and mentally.
2
Q
Why does it happen?
A
- Puberty starts when extra amounts of hormones start to be produced in the body.
- The body produces the sex hormones oestrogen, progestogen and testosterone which are responsible for many different changes in the body.
- The brain and pituitary gland release the sex hormones that regulate the reproductive organs.
3
Q
What is puberty? (In a evolutionary perspective)
A
-From an evolutionary perspective, puberty changes your body to make you able to have children.
4
Q
Puberty is boys and girls are…
A
- Grow taller and heavier
- Bones get bigger and heavier
- Hair grows under armpits and in pubic region
- Hair on arms and legs grows darker
- Hormones may cause you to have mood swings.
- Your mood swings can cause conflict with people close to you.
- You may also have sexual thoughts and feelings and begin to think about relationships with others.
- There is NO certain age where this is set to happen – some may become interested in relationships early or later. Is entirely dependent on the individual.
- Face changes shape
- Body sweats more
- Hair and skin can become oily and you it may get spots
5
Q
Puberty in girls are…
A
- Breasts and nipples grow
- Hips get wider and more curvy.
- Internal and external sexual organs grow
- Menstrual Cycle starts
- In girls, cheekbones become more prominent, lose “puppy fat” from the cheeks
6
Q
Puberty in boys are…
A
- Boys hair only grows on the underarms, pubic region, legs, face and chest.
- Get more muscles
- Shoulders become more broad
- Voice gets deeper
- Penis and testicles grow bigger and longer
- Testes start to produce sperm and “wet dreams” may occur.
