Puberty is the phase and period in humans that develop at the time of the physical growth and attainment of sexual maturity. We will explain this along with the puberty stages in details.
Puberty stages start once the brain triggers the production of the sex hormones. Although each child develops this at their own pace, the changes are very predictable and in a pattern. Female puberty stages vary from the puberty for boys. The girls usually attain puberty earlier than the boys in most of the cases. The signs of puberty in girls beings to show up around the age of 11, however in case of puberty in boys stages starts from 10 to 14, the average being 12 years.
What are the Symptoms of Puberty?
The stimulation of the pituitary signal by the hypothalamus hormonal changes in boys triggers puberty. The pituitary glands, in turn, releases the hormones it forms own called as gonadotrophins that stimulates the adrenals and gonads. These glands develop the flood of sex hormones – the androgen and testosterone in male and progestin and estrogen in the female. These sex hormones regulate the development of the growth and function of sex organs in humans. Gonadotrophins are the same for males and females but leading the sex hormones to be secreted and induced differently in them.
The symptoms of puberty do not show or happen overnight. It is unusual for both boys and girls. It is a process that occurs in stages and at different age and pace for different people. It is normal for the 2 different people of the same sex to start developing puberty stages at different age or time. The genetics of the body, body mass and nutritional state with general lifestyle has an effect on the puberty in an individual.
Stages of Puberty in Girls:
The first sign of puberty in girls is usually the breast growth which is noticeable. The duration of breast growth in girls is roughly five years from the onset. The girl’s puberty stages begin with the small lump forming behind the nipples. It is usually sore and the pain gradually fades as the breasts grow and change the shape over the time of few years. Puberty for girls have both breasts develop equally. It is unusual for them to grow at a different pace.
- Stage 1: The age of the girl varies from approximately 8-11. The ovaries enlarge and start the production of hormones. There is no external developmental visible signs in this.
- Stage 2: The approximate age is between 8-14 when the first sign of puberty if the development of breast shows up. The breast buds develop first leading to the elevation of the area near nipples. The pubic hair also is present at this time. The texture of the hair could be coarse, curly or straight. The height and weight of the girl is bound to increase at this time and the body starts to get some round and curvy shape.
- Stage 3: The approximate age is between 9-15 when the breasts grow continuously and pubic hair gets coarser and darker. This stage, the whitish discharge from the vagina starts to show up. For some girls, it could be the start of menstrual periods too.
- Stage 4: This stage ranges from approximately 910-16 where the girls notice aureoles getting darker and separate into a little mound which raises above the rest of the breast. If the mensuration did not start at stage 3, it starts here. The first mensuration would start and along with ovulation. The periods might not be very regular here in this stage. Or the periods could be regular but not the ovulation.
- Stage 5: This stage happens between the 12-19 years approximately which is the final stage of development. The full height is grown along with ovulating regularly. The pubic hair grows and is filled in. Breasts are fully developed for the body.
The Female Puberty stage Images Showing Gradual Growth of a Girl to a Woman.
Stages of Puberty in Boys:
The duration of puberty in boys is about six years for the growth or formation of first testicle enlargement to a cessation of growth. Boys might have some swelling in the chest but it goes away in a year or two. The first sign of puberty in males has nothing very visible from the outer appearance.
- Stage 1: The stage one for boys occurs approximately at 9-12 years. There are no visible signs here for development, however, things happen internally. The male hormone becomes more active and there are growth spurts at this stage.
- Stage 2: The age approximately between 9-15 when the boys have drastic increase in their height and also the shape of the body changes. Fat and muscle tissues develop at this stage. There is a darker skin around the nipple, darkens further and increases in size. The testicles and scrotum grow in size but the penis probably doesn’t at this stage. The pubic hair starts to grow at the base of penis.
- Stage 3: The age for this stage ranges approximately from 11-16 when the penis starts to grow further. It tends to grow both in width and in length. The pubic hair is coarser and turns darker spreading towards the point the legs meet the torso. The boys have continuous height growth and facial maturity starts to develop. The shoulders broaden up making the hip portion look smaller. The muscle tissue increase and the voice modulation starts to happen with more deepen voice. Finally, at this stage, the facial hair tends to develop on the upper lip.
- Stage 4: The boys from 11-17 age would experience this stage when the penis starts to grow further in width. The testicles and scrotum also continue to grow along with hair growth near anus. The texture of the penis turns more like an adult-looking. The facial hair increases and also in underarms. Skin tends to get oilier and voice deepens up changing the way they sound.
- Stage 5: The age appropriately between 14-18 when the boys attain their full height growth. The genitals and pubic hair seem like a grown-up adult’s. Shaving becomes necessary at this stage. Few men continue to grow past beyond this point and sometimes even in their 20s.
The Male Puberty Stage Images Showing Gradual Growth of a Boy to a Man.
Other Common Symptoms of Attaining Puberty:
Acne is an early sign of puberty: The mild acne appear as the early signs of puberty, The high levels of hormones which trigger the acne breakout is very common. The oily glands during the puberty are very active and the kids might sweat even more. You must keep the fact and body clean which can help you with the acne concerns. Medications might help in such cases.
Puberty causing deeper voice and voice cracking: Towards the end of puberty, the boy’s voice might tend to crack. The change in the voice is clearly audible and it stops after a few months. The voice sounds deeper then. Sex hormone testosterone causes the change in the voice when released during puberty in the male. The vocal cord gets thicker and the larynx grows bigger to become the “Adam’s apple”.
Early puberty: There are some kids who grow up too fast and become sexually mature at a very early age as compared to the other kids. The early puberty pr precocious puberty is when the child has reached the hormonal and growth milestone. Breasts, testes, height, or pubic hair growth happens before the age of 6 to 8 in girls and around 9 in boys. This early puberty in girls is linked to obesity. Although, this condition is rare due to hormone exposure or problems with thyroid, brain or ovaries. In case of any concerns, you must talk to the doctor.
When should you Talk to the Doctor?
The best way is for the parents to keep a close track in the bodily changes with respect to their age, keeping in mind their desire for privacy.
- In the case of the puberty, signs occur in a girl before 6 years or in a boy before 9.
- The changes of puberty in a girl are not visible by 12 or 13 years and in a boy by 14 years
- The puberty stages do not go by a typical pattern of development as mentioned above.
