Mechanics - Changes at puberty
Voice changes
As the body grows so does the larynx or voice box. This causes the voice to become deeper. This is more noticeable with boys but even girls voices become a little lower. For boys, this is often referred to as the voice breaking as it doesn’t happen overnight and can often go through a bit of an up and down or squeaky stage for a while.
Attraction
We might start to have stronger feelings towards some people. Perhaps romantic or sexual feelings. It could be someone of the opposite sex to you, same sex or perhaps could be feelings of attraction to people from both sexes. These feelings are perfectly natural and all part of growing up.
Breast development
This is definitely more noticeable for girls, but it can be very common for boys to store fat in the chest area during puberty – this just spreads itself out or gets turned to muscle later on.
Increased appetite
With all the growing going on, we often feel hungrier and eat more. It’s important to make sure we eat enough to help our bodies grow, especially lots of fruit and vegetables as we need all the vitamins and minerals. Drinking plenty of water is important too… and don’t forget breakfast!
Female
Sometime between the ages of 8 and 11, your ovaries will get bigger and your body will start to make the hormones oestrogen and progesterone. During puberty, it is oestrogen that causes breasts to grow and helps the vagina, uterus and fallopian tubes to mature.
Oestrogen also makes you grow taller and changes the way fat is stored on your body – this causes your shape to change and your waist, hips and buttocks to become more obvious. After puberty, oestrogen and progesterone are the hormones which control your menstrual cycle.
The first obvious physical sign of puberty is usually the development of breasts. You may also start to grow taller and put on weight – especially around the hips. Your pubic hair will start to grow – at first it will be fine and straight, rather than curly. These changes usually happen between the ages of 8 and 14 – the average age is around 11 to 12.
From 9 to 15 your breasts will continue to grow. Your pubic hair will become coarser and darker but there still isn’t a lot of it. Your vagina is getting bigger and it may begin to produce a clear or whitish discharge – this is a totally normal process and is how the body keeps itself clean. You may get your first period during this time.
Between 10 and 16, your pubic hair continues to grow and you’re likely to also get hair in your arm pits. Your period is likely to start if it hasn’t started earlier. Ovulation – the release of an egg (ova) each month – will start in some girls but isn’t likely to be in a regular monthly routine. This means that your periods can be irregular for some time.
The final stage of puberty usually happens between the ages of 12 and 19. This is the final stage of development when you’re physically an adult. Your breasts and pubic hair have stopped growing and you’re generally as tall as you are ever going to be. Your periods are now likely to be in a regular cycle and you are ovulating each month.
The monthly reproductive Menstrual Cycle
Periods are a normal and healthy part of being female. During puberty the female reproductive organs begin to develop. When females are born they have around two million eggs (ova) inside their ovaries, each egg is the size of a pinhead. During puberty, hormones begin to cause an egg to start maturing and be released from the ovary each month. This is called ovulation. The egg moves along the fallopian tube to the uterus.
At the same time as the egg is released, the lining of the uterus becomes thick and soft with blood and tissue. This happens in case the egg is fertilised (egg and sperm join). It would implant itself into the lining and a pregnancy would start.
However, more often than not, the egg isn’t fertilised so it is just goes back into the body. The lining of the uterus is not needed so it comes away and leaves the body through the vagina – this is called menstruation or a period. The amount of blood lost during a period is very small – usually only around half a teacup full – and it leaves the body gradually – a period usually lasts between three and seven days.
A woman’s menstrual cycle – from the build-up of the lining to the period – is usually about 28 days from start to finish. When periods first begin they can be fairly irregular and it can take some time before they settle into a regular pattern. If you are worried about your menstrual cycle talk to an adult you trust or a Family Planning nurse.
Women often have some physical signs that their period is about to start. You might:
- Get cramps in your stomach.
- Find that your breasts are tender or even a little swollen.
- Feel tired, a bit sore or a bit emotional.
- Crave sweet foods.
- Get pimples.
These are all perfectly normal. To help you can:
- Put a heat pad or hot water bottle on your stomach.
- Take a warm shower.
- Do some gentle exercise – walking or stretching.
- Have a hot drink.
There is a range of medication available to help with period cramps and pain. You can find these at a chemist shop or you can talk with your Family Planning nurse or a doctor.
It’s helpful to keep a calendar or diary to track when your period is due. Mark off the first day of your period as Day 1 and keep marking the calendar until your period is finished. That way you’ll learn how long your period lasts and how long the gap between periods is.
Calendar or diary example:
|
1* |
2* |
3* |
*4 |
5* |
6 |
7 |
|
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
|
15 |
16 |
17 |
18 |
19 |
20 |
21 |
|
22 |
23 |
24 |
25 |
26 |
27 |
28* |
|
29* |
30* |
31* |
1* |
2 |
3 |
4 |
In this example the woman’s period started on the 1st of the month and lasted five days. Her cycle was 27 days because her next period started on the 28th. It’s important to remember that everyone’s cycle is different – yours might be longer or shorter.
The menstrual cycle is also important because it tells a woman when she is most fertile – this means when she is most likely to become pregnant if she has unprotected sex. A woman is most fertile when she is ovulating which is almost always 14 days before her next period.
How to manage your period
When you have your period you will need to wear some kind of protection to stop the blood staining your clothes. There are two main choices – pads or tampons. There is a huge range of pads and tampons available now – you can choose the type that suits you best.
Many women start using pads when they first have their periods. These are absorbent pads that have a sticky side which sticks to your knickers to hold it in place. You will need to change your pad every three to four hours during the day – this will keep you feeling clean and fresh.
Tampons are inserted into the vagina. They are made of an absorbent material and will need to be changed up to six times a day depending on how heavy your bleeding is. Most girls will start with a “mini” sized tampon to get used to inserting them. All tampons come with instructions – read them carefully before you try using them. It may take you some time to get used to using tampons. Make sure you have time and privacy when you’re learning how to use them.
Remember, tampons can’t get lost in the body as the cervix at the top of the vagina stops them. You can go to the toilet (pee) when wearing a tampon, because the urethra is a separate opening.
Some women use vaginal sponges or ‘moon cups’, which are alternative ways of absorbing or collecting blood.
Male
Here’s are some things that happen:
- Your voice will get deeper. People sometimes talk about this as a voice “breaking”. Sometimes your voice may be deep and sometimes it can be a bit high or squeaky.
- You will grow taller.
- Your muscles will develop and your shoulders will get broader.
- Your penis and testicles will get larger.
- You will get hair on your body – on your arms, your legs, your chest and genitals. You will also get hair on your face and you may need to start shaving.
- You may get spots on your face. You might also get spots on your back and chest.
- You will sweat more – especially under your arms and between your legs.
- You may get a little swelling around your nipples. Sometimes your nipples can be sensitive. Your breasts may grow, but this is only temporary.
- Your penis may seem to have a mind of its own and you might get erections – this is when the penis gets stiff, longer and wider and when it sticks outwards and upwards. These erections can happen when you’re sexually excited and often even when you aren’t.
- You may have wet dreams. This is when you lose semen (which is wet and mixed with sperm) from your penis when you’re asleep. This is normal.
Everyone will start puberty at a different age. Not everyone develops at the same speed or in the same order. Your body will change over several years.
If you’re worried about puberty you can talk with one of your parents, another trusted adult or a Family Planning nurse.
Feelings and emotions
Puberty is not just about physical changes – it’s also about emotional and social changes. During puberty we develop new feelings and our emotions can change quickly.
Mood changes or mood swings are very common during puberty. This is when you might feel happy one moment, then sad or grumpy the next. Sometimes we might get angry quickly and argue more with our friends and family. But on other days we’re excited and loving learning and doing new things. This is a normal part of growing up even though it might be confusing to us and to our friends and family.
If you’re feeling down, sad, anxious or worried nearly all the time it is really important to talk to someone you trust. This could be an adult at home, at school, at church or at your sports group. There are also a number of organisations that can help. Here is a list of websites and phone numbers that might be useful.
