KissMeGoodnight
eLearning Series:
Your Sexual Health
Girls:
What To Expect During Puberty
Going through the big change can be rough
on a girl. Not only is your body changing, your mind is changing
too. These changes are completely normal and mean you are becoming
a woman now. There is nothing to be scared of and your body
knows exactly what it is doing.
When the child begins to turn into an adult, their body begins
to change. These changes can be frightening and you may at
times feel embarrassed about the changes you are going through.
Every adult has gone through puberty so if you have questions
talk to your parents or a trusted older person. Girls may begin
puberty around the ages of eight to fifteen years old. As with
most things in life, this number is not a fixed age. Some girls
may develop faster or slower than you may. Genetics plays an
important role when girls will start puberty. Talk with your
mother and you will most likely follow the same pattern she
did. Again, there are no hard and fast rules. During puberty
you body begins releasing hormones.
As these hormones begin to increase, your body will begin
changing:
You will grow taller Your figure will begin to fill out
You will put weight on – this is not a bad thing it simply
means your body is changing to become a woman
Your breasts begin to grow – as this happens, you may begin
to feel sensations in your breasts, and that they are tender.
The breasts may not develop equally and this is very natural.
You will begin to grow hair around your genitals, legs, and
under your arms.
You will notice that you are sweating more than you use to
and when this happens it will be time to find a deodorant that
works for your body and one that you like.
The external female organs begin to grow and become fuller
The uterus is growing and expanding preparing for you to become
a woman
The vagina will begin producing a fluid. This is normal and
necessary. The discharge is the way your body cleans itself.
If you begin to notice a discharge in your underwear this
is a signal that you will probably begin your period anywhere
from six to eighteen months. Normally the discharge does not
have an odor – if you notice there is an odor you need to make
an appointment with your doctor.
Your period is an exciting time for a girl because this signals
you are becoming a young woman. It may be a bit uncomfortable
for the first couple of years this is normal. Your body is
getting used to the changes. You will begin to notice that
on a certain day each month your period will begin. You will
notice how you feel a week or so before it starts and this
is a warning for you to carry tampons or pads with you.
What
is happening when you are having your period is that your
body is discharging the lining of the uterus. This is
bloody and often has mucus with it. For the next several days
you will pass it through the vagina – this is your bleeding
and is very natural. A few days before and sometimes during
the early part of your period, you may experience cramping.
This feels kind of like having a bad stomach. This cramping
will subside as you near the end of your period. Usually your
period starts light to medium, then flows heavy for a couple
of days, and then begins to taper off. Just after your period
ends, your body gets ready for a pregnancy.
Hormones in your body signal your ovaries to release an egg,
which travels through the fallopian tubes. Another hormone
then prepares the uterus to receive the potentially fertilized
egg. If you are sexually active and have unprotected sex this
is the time when you could get pregnant. If you are not sexually
active then you do not need birth control at this time. However,
if you are sexually active, remember now is the time to use
a birth control method. As you will move into your period,
your uterus does not have an egg to carry because it will begin
the discharge process. Once you have been, having your period
for a while you will notice that you fall into a cycle. Some
women have their period every 28 to 34 days. # # # # #
KissMeGoodnight.com
: 2006
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