The teens are probably the most crucial and challenging phase in the life of a young person. Puberty marks a sudden surge in the level and activity of sex hormones in the body of an adolescent, which results in significant and sometimes confusing changes in the physical and mental make-up of the person. Young girls and boys experience the effects of puberty differently, though there are a few common bodily changes that both go through.


Generally, girls hit puberty a little earlier than boys, which explains why they grow taller than boys between the ages of 9 and 13. The hormones estrogen and progesterone are primarily responsible for the major changes that take place in adolescent girls body during puberty. The first sign of puberty is the beginning of the menstrual cycle, marked by monthly vaginal discharge of blood and tissues, popularly known as the period. The period occurs every 28 days and lasts for around 3 to 5 days.


It is common to experience some pain and discomfort in the lower abdomen and pelvic area just before and during the period, especially in the early teens, but usually the problem becomes less severe as one grows older. Young girls may also experience some irregularities in the amount and frequency of menstrual discharge initially, but the cycle becomes regular in a few months.

Another manifest symptom of puberty in girls is the development of breasts. It is fairly common for girls who have just hit puberty to feel a small, hard lump just beneath the nipples. This marks the beginning of the development of breasts. Like boys, girls also experience the growth of hair in the armpits and the pubic area. However, unlike boys, girls do not have growth of hair on the chest or the face. The general shape of the female body also undergoes change during puberty. There is accumulation of fat around the chest and the hip, which makes the torso look somewhat like an hourglass. It is natural to feel anxious about all these rapid and drastic changes in the body that occur during the teens. You must remember that each person’s body grows at a different rate; hence there is no need to feel worried or ashamed about any of the above mentioned changes that take place in your body. You should eat a healthy, well balanced diet rich in vitamins and minerals, exercise regularly, maintain personal hygiene and practice safe sex.