Puberty In Girls

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Is your daughter going through puberty? Here are some things you need to know about puberty in girls.

When do girls start puberty?

The age range for puberty has widened among girls in recent years, but the average age for puberty to begin in girls is between 11 and 13 years old. That said, anywhere from 9 to 14 can be considered within the range of normal. A recent study found the median age of onset was around 10 or 11. (NBC Nightly News, 8-9-2010)

Stages of puberty in girls

Although each girl undergoes puberty at her own pace, here are the average stages of puberty:

7-11 years: A girl’s breast buds appear, accompanied by sparse, light pubic hair. They begin a growth spurt.

9-14 years: There is further enlargement of the breasts, and the appearance of straight, pigmented pubic hair, which will progressively grow kinky. Their voice deepens (though not as dramatically as it does in boys), and there is rapid growth in the ovaries, uterus and vagina. Vaginal secretions become more acidic, and they’ll begin to menstruate. They’ll also experience their maximum growth spurt during this age; girls who enter puberty sooner will tend to be shorter as adults.

14-16 years: There is the appearance of auxiliary hair, much to a girl’s chagrin. Her breasts will reach their adult size and shape, and they attain the culmination of their physical growth.

Changes that happen to girls during puberty

  • They experience a rise in both estrogen and testosterone levels

  • The vaginal secretions change from alkaline to acidic

  • They add body fat around the hips and thighs, which girls may assume to mean they’re getting fat.

Challenges girls face during puberty

  • Girls typically get much meaner around puberty or just before. Your daughter is more likely to be bullied, and you also don’t want her becoming one of the mean girls herself.

  • Girls tend to fall into cliques around this age, much moreso than boys. Social hierarchies develop, leaving some girls with enormous power and others subjective to their whims.

  • All kids become more self-conscious during puberty, but girls usually moreso than boys, since their changes are more visible. Girls who aren’t developing as fast as their peers also feel self-conscious.

  • Girls have to learn how to handle an interest from boys in their bodies; they may begin experiencing catcalls or overhear comments about their body. They need to be able to take it in stride without getting upset. Help your daughter see it as a sign of interest and admiration, not a lack of respect, even if it doesn’t always come across this way.

  • Dealing with the hassles brought on by menstruation can be a challenge.

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