Puberty is the period during which a body changes from a boy or a girl into a young man or woman. Or, as a doctor might say, the body physically matures from childhood into adolescence. Puberty begins at different ages. On average, girls begin puberty between ages 8 to 13 and the entire process can take up to four years. The body goes through many changes during puberty that are often unpleasant. Skin may get oilier and sweatier, which can lead to acne and body odor. Changing hormone levels can cause our emotions to feel out of control at times. You may also have a lot of questions - what is happening to my body? Is this normal? Are other people going through the same thing? On a more positive note, the beginning of puberty also means you will grow taller.

Girls will notice they are beginning puberty when their breasts start to grow, usually around age 10 (although this can happen anywhere from ages 8 to 13). It is normal to feel painful lumps under the nipples or for the breasts to grow at different speeds. This is only temporary. There is no "right" time to start wearing a bra, although most girls will start when the changes in their nipples become obvious.

Next, girls will notice growth of hair in their pubic (above the vagina) area. It starts out straight and soft, but with time, will get curlier, darker, and cover a wider area. There is usually also more hair in the armpit area, as well as on the legs. Choosing to shave or not to shave this new hair does not affect a girls' health.

After breasts have started to change, girls will start to notice their hips getting wider, and weight gain in their buttocks, thighs, and abdomen. This is a normal and necessary process the body undergoes to prepare for a potential pregnancy some day. Many girls and their families ask about dieting and weight loss around this time. Children should not go on a diet unless they are being closely monitored by a doctor and/or nutritionist, and are clinically overweight or obese. Instead, the entire family should focus on eating a variety of healthy foods and being active.

Girls are often concerned about when they will start their menstrual cycle, or "get their period." The average girl starts her period around age 11 or 12, but it can happen between 9 to 16 years of age. The best way to guess when girls will get their first period is to add 18 to 24 months to the age when their breasts started to grow. In these pre-period months, many girls will get a clear or white mucous-like discharge from their vagina. If it is bothersome, they can try wearing mini-pads or panty liners to help absorb the fluid. Once they get their first period, it may be another 18 to 24 months until they are "regular" - with predictable periods that come every three to five weeks. In the meantime, it is normal to skip a period some months, or even to get more than one period per month. However, girls should be seen by their doctor if they skip more than six months between periods, or if their periods seem too heavy, too frequent, or cause too much discomfort.

After girls get their first period, they are likely to grow only another inch or so. As much growing as girls experience physically, they have even more "growing up" to do emotionally. Their minds and questions become even more complex, and they are less likely to ask their parents for help than before. Try to remember that doctors are sensitive to this - they were once kids themselves. Most will ask their teen patients if they want to be seen alone, for the sake of privacy. They are prepared for all kinds of questions girls have, and they will try their best to help girls (and their parents) understand their bodies and their health.
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