Physical Changes in Girls' Puberty

Puberty is the process of turning towards physical and sexual maturity, so that at this stage the child is ready to carry out his reproductive function. A puberty period is child's very diverse, generally starting at the age of 9-14 years and the process on average ends at the age of 15-17 years.

Puberty begins when the hypothalamus, which is part of the brain, releases the hormone GnRH (gonadotropin releasing hormone) . This gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) will signal the pituitary gland to release luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) to initiate sexual development, in both boys and girls.

Puberty usually lasts 4 years. At the end of the process, girls will reach the maturity of their reproductive organs. With puberty, a child who was originally asexual will become a sexual being.

The hormones that dominate the development of girls are the hormones estrogen and estradiol. The hormone estradiol will trigger the growth of the breast and uterus, and cause a growth spurt at puberty.

Children will go through three stages towards puberty:

Pre-pubertal phase

This phase is the time when children are no longer children, but have not yet entered adulthood. This stage is about 1 - 2 years before puberty.

Stage adolescent

This stage is characterized by the maturity of the sexual organs and the appearance of secondary sex characteristics. Girls will experience menstruation, breast growth and the presence of pubic hair.

Post-pubertal phase

In this phase, the secondary sex characteristics have fully developed, the reproductive organs have matured similar to the reproductive organs of adult women. In this period the growth rate gradually decreases until it stops.

Physical Changes That Occur

At puberty, hormones will begin to make major changes in a girl's body that usually last for at least 4 years.

The following are the physical changes that occur during puberty:

• The structure of the vulva becomes larger and lighter, the color changes.
• In pre-pubescent girls, the vulva is more advanced than in adult women. When awake, the percentage of cleft labia majora and pudendal will appear larger.
• During puberty, the mons pubis enlarges, pushing the front of the labia majora away from the pubic bone and so that it is completely facing downwards when awake. The amount of body fat affects these changes.
• Breasts will grow bigger and shaped like a woman's breasts as an adult. This growth begins with the formation of a soft mound just below the areola that will be painful especially when pressed. These small bumps can grow in one or both breasts at once.
• The presence of pubic hair growth that begins in the labia majora which then spreads to the mons pubis and sometimes to the inner thighs and perineum.
• There is hair growth in the armpits.
• The growth in height will be clearly visible because there is a growth spurt due to hormonal effects.
• Greater development of thigh muscles behind the femur than in the front.
• Widening of the hips, the mean waist is lower in hip ratio than in middle-aged men.
• The size of the hands and feet are smaller than men.
• The face is rounder.
• The hormone estrogen makes the skin smoother, softer and thicker vascular.
• The sound is getting smoother.
• Smaller waist than men.
• There is an increase in the secretion of oil and sweat glands which often results in ulcers and rancidity of the body.
• Changes in the distribution of body weight and fat. Fat deposits and stores are centered especially around the buttocks, thighs and hips.
• Menstrual period will start. Usually at this time the explosive progress of the body will begin to slow down. The average menstrual cycle begins when a child is 11 or 14 years old. But in some children, this cycle begins to be shorter, namely the age of 9 years, in some even very slow, namely the age of 18 years.