Puberty in Girls -
GENERAL INFORMATION:
What is puberty? Puberty (PEW-bur-tee) is a major change that happens in your body. It is a time when you grow very fast and your body changes into an adult body. Puberty is the last time of fast growth you will have in your life. Puberty happens over a period of 2 to 4 years, but may last longer. Everyone goes through it. Though it is hard to believe, even your parents went through puberty!
How does puberty start? Puberty starts in your brain. Your brain sends a message to your ovaries that it is time for your body to change. Your ovaries begin to make a special chemical or hormone called estrogen. Estrogen and other hormones cause your body to change in shape and size during puberty. They cause your body to get ready for reproduction (re-pro-DUCK-shun), or having a baby.
When does puberty start? Although puberty usually starts between ages 8 to 13 in girls, it may start earlier or later. Everyone's body changes at a different time. Whether you have breasts at age 10 or have not started your period by age 14, do not worry. Everyone goes through puberty eventually.
What will happen to my body during puberty? Your body will change in the following ways during puberty.
Breast Changes: Your breasts will begin to grow. This is often the first sign you are starting puberty.
Face and Skin Changes: Your skin may become oily and you may get acne (pimples). The blackheads, whiteheads, or red bumps of acne affect nearly every teenager and many young adults. Acne happens when a "plug" of oils and skin gets stuck in a follicle (FALL-ih-kull). A follicle is the pore from which a hair grows. The area around the follicle swells and reddens. You may get acne on your back, chest, and neck. Keep your skin clean so that oil and dirt cannot build up and make your acne worse.
Menstruation (men-STRAY-shun):
Voice Changes: Your voice probably will not crack and squeak like a boy's voice does during puberty, but your voice will change! During puberty, your voice will become stronger and a little deeper. Estrogen causes your larynx (LAIR-inks) or voice box to grow and your vocal cords to become longer and thicker. Once your vocal cords are finished growing, you will have a strong, full adult voice.
How will I feel during puberty? It is normal to have some or all of these during puberty.
You have the right to learn about puberty. Talk with your caregiver about the changes you are going through if you have questions or concerns. You always have the right to refuse the information on this sheet.
Copyright (c) 2007 Thomson MICROMEDEX. All rights reserved. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes. The information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Additionally, the manufacture and distribution of herbal substances are not regulated in the United States, and no quality standards currently exist. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.
Please read the end user acknowledgement.
http://www.elakiri.com/forum/newreply.php?do=newreply&p=7242680
GENERAL INFORMATION:
What is puberty? Puberty (PEW-bur-tee) is a major change that happens in your body. It is a time when you grow very fast and your body changes into an adult body. Puberty is the last time of fast growth you will have in your life. Puberty happens over a period of 2 to 4 years, but may last longer. Everyone goes through it. Though it is hard to believe, even your parents went through puberty!
How does puberty start? Puberty starts in your brain. Your brain sends a message to your ovaries that it is time for your body to change. Your ovaries begin to make a special chemical or hormone called estrogen. Estrogen and other hormones cause your body to change in shape and size during puberty. They cause your body to get ready for reproduction (re-pro-DUCK-shun), or having a baby.
When does puberty start? Although puberty usually starts between ages 8 to 13 in girls, it may start earlier or later. Everyone's body changes at a different time. Whether you have breasts at age 10 or have not started your period by age 14, do not worry. Everyone goes through puberty eventually.
What will happen to my body during puberty? Your body will change in the following ways during puberty.
Breast Changes: Your breasts will begin to grow. This is often the first sign you are starting puberty.
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[*]Your nipples will get larger and darker. Tiny bumps may form on them.
[*]Your breasts grow full under your nipples first. These are called "breast buds." Your breasts will fill out and fully develop in 1 to 4 years. Some girls have breasts that grow quickly, completely developing in less than 1 year. For other girls, this may take longer.
[*]Your breasts may be sore, tender, and sensitive as they grow. Wearing a bra may give your breasts support and help you to be more comfortable. It may help protect them if they are sensitive or sore. It may help you feel less self-conscious about your breasts. - It is very normal for your breasts to grow unevenly. One breast may be smaller than the other for a while. By the end of puberty, your breasts should be about the same size.
Face and Skin Changes: Your skin may become oily and you may get acne (pimples). The blackheads, whiteheads, or red bumps of acne affect nearly every teenager and many young adults. Acne happens when a "plug" of oils and skin gets stuck in a follicle (FALL-ih-kull). A follicle is the pore from which a hair grows. The area around the follicle swells and reddens. You may get acne on your back, chest, and neck. Keep your skin clean so that oil and dirt cannot build up and make your acne worse.
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[*]Wash your face 2 times a day with a mild soap that does not have perfume. Use your hands to wash your face. Rubbing your skin hard with a wash cloth may irritate your skin and make your acne worse.
[*]It is OK to wear makeup. Be sure that makeup, creamy lotions, or other skin products you use are less likely to cause pimples. Use water-based makeup, not oil-based. Oil-based makeup may cause your acne to get worse. Use loose powders instead of pressed powders that are made with mineral oil. - Wash off sweat, especially after exercising.
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[*] Height: You may grow 2 to 8 inches or even taller during puberty. Girls usually stop growing taller about 2 years after starting to menstruate (have periods).
[*] Hands and Feet: Your feet and hands will grow longer and wider. Your feet may grow faster or finish growing before you see other puberty changes. - Arms, Legs, and Other Body Parts: With so much activity going on in your body, it is common for some body parts to grow faster than others. Your arms and legs may grow longer while your waist looks too short. One side of your face may grow a little faster than the other. Your ears may look too large for your head. All these changes may cause you to feel clumsy and think that you look funny. Hang in there. This is all part of normal growth during puberty. Your body parts should be even (match in size and length) by the time your puberty has ended.
Menstruation (men-STRAY-shun):
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[*]Menstruation means having your "period". It happens about once each month and lasts for 2 to 7 days. Menstruation may start at any time during puberty, but it usually happens after you have other body changes first. It may start after you begin growing taller or after your breasts begin to develop. Menstruation is a normal sign that your body is becoming an adult woman's body. It means that your body is able to get pregnant. Some girls are happy about starting their period, while others may be upset or sad.
[*]You were born with thousands of eggs in your ovaries. Puberty hormones cause your ovaries to release an egg each month. The egg goes down your fallopian tubes and into your uterus. If the egg has been fertilized (joined) with sperm, it will stay in the uterus and grow into a baby. If the egg is not fertilized, it goes out of your body through your vagina. Each month your uterus builds up a lining made of blood cells and tissue. When a woman is pregnant, the lining stays and feeds the fertilized egg. When the woman is not pregnant, the uterus gets rid of the lining. The bloody lining that slides off the uterus each month is your menstrual blood or period. Ask your caregiver for more information about menstruation.
[*]Your first period may come as a real surprise. There is no way to predict when it will start. It may come as a few drops of blood in your panties or it may be a heavier blood flow. You may feel cramps (aches in your belly) before it comes, or nothing at all. Here are some important things to know about menstruation:
[*] You may start out having irregular periods. You should get your period once each month. This may not mean every 30 days. You may have a 21 day cycle or a 28 day cycle. When your period starts, it may be irregular (does not come at the same time each month). You may have one period in 28 days and your next one in 38. In fact, you may not have a period at all some months. This is normal. Your period should become regular in time. Put a small calendar in your purse. Mark the first day (or all the days) of your period each month with an "X". This will help you have a better idea of when your period might come the next month.
[*] You should wear sanitary pads or tampons during your period. Keep tampons or sanitary pads in your purse in case you start your period at an unexpected time.
- Change your tampon or sanitary pad every 4 hours or whenever it is full of blood.
- Learn about Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS). This is an uncommon bacterial infection that can happen and is connected with tampon use.
- Do not flush tampons down the toilet because they may get stuck in the water pipes.
- Do not wear a tampon while you sleep at night. Wear a heavy pad instead.
- Only the soft cotton part of the tampon should stay in your vagina. Take the cardboard or plastic tube out after you push the tampon in. Then throw the tube away. Read the directions inside the box off tampons. These directions will tell you how to put tampons in and take them out correctly.
[*] You may smell bad if your pubic area has blood on it. Blood that comes into contact with air smells bad quickly. You may need to bathe more often than once a day if blood goes onto your skin. Wipe your pubic area carefully from front to back after you go to the bathroom.
[*] You may get PMS. PMS or "premenstrual syndrome" is a group of changes you may see and feel before your period. You may have headaches, dizziness, or feel sick to your stomach before your period. You may feel like crying more, feel a little sad, and feel more emotional about everything. PMS may cause you to retain (hold onto) water. Retaining water means that your body tries to keep more body fluid in before and during your period. This may make your breasts tender and cause you to feel bloated, restless, or grumpy. You can help control PMS by doing these things:
- Try not to eat foods that have high-salt or high-sugar before or during your period. Even though you may want them, do not eat them. Staying away from these foods will help keep your body from holding onto too much extra water. Some high-salt foods are chips, soda pop, and any food that has salt that you can see on it. High sugar foods are donuts, candy, cookies, and other foods that have a very sweet taste. Instead, eat healthy foods and snack on fresh fruits and vegetables. Drink lots of water. Drinking extra water during the day actually helps your body get rid of body fluid and salt.
- Try not to drink or eat foods that have caffeine in them. Eating and drinking caffeine before or during your period may cause you to feel more grumpy. Caffeine may be found in coffee, tea, soda pop, sports drinks and foods, and chocolate.
- Eat foods that are high in iron. Your body needs iron to stay strong, have energy, and to make new blood cells. Eat as many iron-rich foods as you can. Examples of high-iron foods are meats and fish, raisins, dark green vegetables, and beans.
- Exercise and get plenty of sleep. Exercise may help you feel more comfortable and have more energy around the time of your period. Get 9 or more hours of sleep each night, and take naps or rest during the day when you feel tired.
[*] You may have cramps. Some girls have cramps before and during their period, while others do not. Talk to your caregiver about ways to treat cramps. Your caregiver may have a medicine to give to you or good advice about how to decrease the pain. - Once you start having periods, your body is able to get pregnant at any time. Whether you are having your period or not, you may get pregnant at any time if you have "unprotected" sex. Unprotected sex is having sex without condoms or other types of birth control. You are more likely to catch a sexually transmitted disease (STD) during your period or unprotected sex. All in all, it is best to wait to have sex until you are married.
Voice Changes: Your voice probably will not crack and squeak like a boy's voice does during puberty, but your voice will change! During puberty, your voice will become stronger and a little deeper. Estrogen causes your larynx (LAIR-inks) or voice box to grow and your vocal cords to become longer and thicker. Once your vocal cords are finished growing, you will have a strong, full adult voice.
How will I feel during puberty? It is normal to have some or all of these during puberty.
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[*] Different thoughts and emotions: You may feel confused or awkward. You may get upset or mad at friends or family very easily. You may be moody without understanding why. You may be laughing one moment and crying the next. With so many hormones racing through your body, this can be very normal. However, if you are very sad all the time for more than 1 week, talk to someone. You may be depressed and need help. Talk to a friend or parent, teacher, counselor, youth leader, or parent of one of your friends. There are many adults who care about your feelings and may be able to help you.
[*] Tired and hungry: Do you feel like you cannot eat or sleep enough? Remember that puberty is a time of very fast growth. You need 9 or more hours of sleep each night and good food for healthy growth.
[*] Uncomfortable with your body: You may be embarrassed easily. You may sometime feel unhappy or uncomfortable with the way you look. This may be true especially if you have friends who are developing slower or faster than you. Even if you cannot help comparing your body to your friends' bodies, remember that everyone will "catch up". You and all your friends will have an adult body by the end of puberty. Your awkward feelings and clumsiness should also go away by the time puberty is over.
[*] Sexual fantasies and thoughts: You may start to have feelings that you have never had before. You may feel sexually excited or aroused. You may be curious about sex or the way the bodies of others look. You may feel attracted to someone. - Want to be away from your family: During puberty, you may want to spend most of your time with friends instead of family members. You may feel embarrassed by your family or parents. You may feel like your parents have no idea what you are going through during puberty. It is normal for you to want to be with and dress like your friends most of the time. Just remember that sometime your family may be a better support for you than your friends.
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[*] Eat healthy foods. Eat healthy foods from all of the 5 food groups: fruits, vegetables, breads, dairy products, meat and fish. Eating healthy foods may help you feel good and have more energy. Limit the amount of junk foods such as chips, sweets, and fast food. These may fill you up so that you do not feel like eating the good foods. If you feel you are gaining too much weight, talk to your caregiver before going on a diet.
[*] Exercise regularly. Find an exercise that you can do on your own such as biking or jogging. Get involved in a team sport. Exercising makes your heart stronger and keeps you healthy. If you are overweight, eating good foods and exercising regularly may help control your weight.
[*] Keep yourself clean.
- During your daily bath or shower, take special care to wash the hairy areas of your body with soap and water. Areas like your armpits and genitals (area between your legs) begin to smell bad quickly. You may need to bathe more often if you practice with a sports team or exercise daily. Keeping your face clean may help keep pimples from forming or getting worse.
- Brush your teeth at least 2 times per day. Brush your teeth with a fluoride toothpaste after breakfast and before bedtime. This may help prevent tooth decay and bad breath.
[*] Do not use things that could harm your body. Stay away from alcohol, drugs, and tobacco (chewing and smoking tobacco). All of these can be addictive. Smoking can damage your lungs and cause cancer. Alcohol and drugs may make you depressed. They may cause you to make bad choices or make you depend on them to feel good. - Talk about your feelings. Going through puberty is tough. Talking about what you are thinking and feeling may make it easier to get through. Find friends and adults who you can trust and talk to.
You have the right to learn about puberty. Talk with your caregiver about the changes you are going through if you have questions or concerns. You always have the right to refuse the information on this sheet.
Copyright (c) 2007 Thomson MICROMEDEX. All rights reserved. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes. The information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Additionally, the manufacture and distribution of herbal substances are not regulated in the United States, and no quality standards currently exist. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.
Please read the end user acknowledgement.
http://www.elakiri.com/forum/newreply.php?do=newreply&p=7242680
