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Puberty
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Puberty events in girls are
as follows:
- Growth spurt . Growth starts and ends
earlier in girls than in boys. This growth spurt signals that a girl's
will
begin in 6 months to 1 year. The growth of the trunk is delayed by
one year in comparison to the arms and legs, so limbs appear awkward.
Girls who experience their growth spurt earlier or later than others
may need reassurance. Body weight and percentage of body fat also
undergo changes in the developing adolescent.
- Development of breasts . Breast development
continues for several years. Girls are often self-conscious and embarrassed,
especially if (as commonly happens) one breast develops faster than
the other.
- Pubic hair . Pubic hair begins to grow
at about the same time the growth spurt occurs.
- Underarm and coarser body hair . This
generally appears two years after pubic hair.
- . The
beginning of menstruation is called menarche .
The first menstrual period usually occurs two years after breast development
begins. A body weight of approximately 45-50 kg (103-109 lbs) generally
signals both menarche and the end of the growth spurt. For menarche
to continue, the fat percentage of the girl's total body weight must
be around 17%.
These changes are due to the levels of (LH) and (FSH) in a female's blood stream. LH and FSH levels, although
high at birth, remain low until puberty, where they increase and stimulate
the production of the female sex hormones, increased levels of which,
set in motion the changes associated with this time of life.
The information in this page is presented in summarised form and has been taken
from the following source(s):
1. Utah Education Network:
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