Female Puberty


Female Puberty 


When Do Women Hit Puberty?

     When the human body reaches a certain weight (which differs among individuals but is usually around 12 years old), the hypothalamus in the brain releases a hormone called gonadotropin that initiates the onset of puberty. Boys and girls begin to go through similar stages of physical changes, but with different timing, intensities, and durations. In general, when a person is between 8–18 years old, the gonadotropins are released into the bloodstream; these hormones stimulate activity in the gonads and produce changes in the male testes and the female ovaries. Specifically, the female ovaries begin to produce estrogen, a hormone which helps prepare the body for reproduction by causing sexual maturation (ex: gaining breasts, producing pubic hair, releasing eggs, etc.).

Physical Changes during Puberty

     Girls usually begin puberty approximately two years earlier than boys do. The ages vary greatly among girls, so if you start earlier or later than your friends, it is perfectly okay! Every person is made up of different sets of genes and complex bodily functions, which causes some to develop earlier (“early bloomers”) and others later (“late bloomers”). In general, girls begin to notice the various following changes during puberty.

Breast Growth 

·         The breasts begin to develop into small mounds, or breast buds, around the ages of nine or 10. On some occasions, one breast may develop faster than the other, but they often even out over time. However, it is actually quite common for one of a woman’s breasts to be larger or smaller than the other. More often than not, adult women claim to possess two different sized breasts and can almost always indicate which breast is bigger or smaller. In this way, it is perfectly normal and healthy to have breasts of different sizes and should not be viewed as negative or scary.

·         Breasts develop at different rates for every female. There is no way to speed up or slow down breast growth (despite the various products advertised to accelerate it). If you or a few of your friends are developing more quickly or slowly than your classmates, it is okay and nothing to be discouraged by! Allow your breasts time to grow and develop; they will, we promise! Until then, learn to love your body, and understand that breast size does not determine beauty, sexuality, or identity.



·         Approximately 1.5-2 years after the onset of breast development, girls may experience their very first menstrual period, referred to as menarche. During the menstrual cycle, the period during which the body prepares for a possible pregnancy, an unfertilized egg (called an “ovum”) is released from one of the two ovaries, travels through the fallopian tube, and ends up in the uterus, a pear-shaped organ also referred to as the “womb.” While the egg is on its journey from the ovary, the uterus builds up its inner lining with extra tissue and blood to prepare for implantation. If the egg is fertilized (combines with a male gamete sperm cell), it will implant itself inside the lining of the uterus, now nourished with tissue and blood, and begin developing into a child. When the egg is not fertilized, implantation does not occur, and the built-up endometrial tissue and blood sheds. This shedding of the endometrial lining due to the lack of fertilization creates the process of menstruation. The menstrual period lasts an average of five to seven days. Typically, bleeding is heaviest during the first three to four days of menstruation and then begins to lighten. In a regular 28-day cycle, two weeks (14 days) after menstruation begins, another egg is released from one of the ovaries in a process called ovulation.

·         Some girls experience irregular menstrual periods for several years before their cycles become regular and predictable. It is perfectly normal to have periods longer or shorter than the average of five to seven days or miss periods altogether. However, if you are sexually active and not using reliable contraception, a missed period may indicate pregnancy. During their periods, girls may experience certain side effects, such as bloating, moodiness, bodily aches, abdominal cramping, vomiting, fatigue, headaches, and heightened emotionality. Many of these physical side effects, including cramping, bloating, headaches, and abdominal pain, can be relieved with over-the-counter medications (e.g., Advil, Ibuprofen, Midol, etc.).

·         The vaginal walls become thicker, and the uterus becomes larger and more muscular.

 The Vulva during Puberty


Are All Vulvas the Same?


Vaginal Discharge and Odor


Vulva Maintenance

     The vulva is naturally self-cleaning, so douching and using feminine deodorants is completely unnecessary. In fact, douching on a regular basis can upset the natural balance of bacteria found in the vagina and lead to an increased risk of vaginitis. To keep your vulva healthy, simply eat healthily, exercise on a regular basis, wash it regularly with gentle soap and water, and wipe from front to back after going to the bathroom. If you wipe from back to front, you may accidentally infect the vagina with agents from the anus.


Changes in Body Shape

·         Girl’s figures develop womanly curves as they gain weight in areas such as their hips. This extra weight is an important part of becoming a woman. There are many theories as to why this occurs, but the most common one is that wider hips attract more mating partners. Evolutionarily, it is believed that wider hips indicate sexual maturity and signify that a woman’s body is ready to conceive a child. In turn, this attracts more mates to her. Wider hips are also useful during childbirth for both the mother and baby because they allow for a wider birth canal. Overall, girls tend to fill out all over the body and develop curves as they grow older. These curves should be embraced and understood as natural and normal occurrences in female puberty.


·         Increased activity of the oil-secreting glands in the skin causes the emergence of pimples, but acne usually subsides with the completion of puberty. (If acne becomes or remains a particularly difficult issue, there are several drugstore acne cleansers, such as Cetaphil and Neutrogena, that may help. If none of these cleansers are effective or acne seems especially extreme, we recommend visiting a dermatologist. They are able to prescribe cleansers and/or creams which may be more effective.


Body Hair

Chest Hair





Pubic Hair 


Variations of Pubic Hair


Purpose of Pubic Hair

            There is no definite answer as to why humans have pubic hair, but there are several theories. The prevailing theory relates to pheromones, which are the chemicals that the body produces to indicate reproductive availability or convey information about genotype. This theory argues that pubic hair traps and emits erotic scents from the genitals which can then be spread to attract possible mates.
           Other theorists argue that the pubic hair keeps the genitals warm or that, for females, the pubic hair prevents foreign particles from entering the vagina.

Attitudes About Pubic Hair


Vocal Changes 


Mental Changes


More Resources

            For more information about puberty, check out the following websites:







Last Updated 21 April 2015

