OUR SEXUAL BODIES: CHANGES THAT OCCUR IN PUBERTY
Girls
Girls have all their sex and reproductive organs when they are born. Girls also have all their sex cells—eggs—already formed by the time they are born. At puberty, these eggs mature, usually one a month.
The pituitary gland in the brain stimulates body changes by triggering hormone production in the ovaries. The ovaries begin producing the hormones estrogen and progesterone. Estrogen and progesterone affect the other cells in a girl’s body. Secondary sex characteristics begin to appear. Some changes girls can expect during puberty:
• They will grow taller.
• The voice will become deeper.
• Underarm hair will appear.
• Pubic hair will grow on the mons pubis and the labia majora.
• Sweat glands will produce greater amounts of sweat.
• Acne may appear.
• The uterus will enlarge.
• Breasts will develop.
• Hips will widen.
• Menstruation will start.
• Thinking about sex will become more common.
• Mood swings may happen abruptly.
Boys have all their sex and reproductive organs at birth, but the testicles do not make sperm until puberty.
The brain stimulates body changes by triggering hormone production in the testes. The testes produce very large amounts of the hormone testosterone. Testosterone affects the other cells in a boy’s body. Secondary sex characteristics begin to appear. Some changes boys can expect during puberty:
• They will become taller very quickly.
• Facial hair will begin to grow.
• The voice will become deeper—it may “crack” during the change.
• Underarm hair will appear.
• Pubic hair will begin to grow above the penis and on the scrotum.
• Sweat glands will produce greater amounts of sweat.
• Acne may appear.
• Penis and testicles will become larger.
• Seminal vesicles, the prostate, and the Cowper’s glands will begin the adult function of producing semen.
• Erections will be more common and may happen spontaneously without stimulation.
• Thinking about sex will become more common.
• Wet dreams may occur.
• Mood swings may happen abruptly.
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Tags: Men’s Health