Puberty Summary Puberty is the time in life when a boy or girl becomes sexually mature. It is a process that usually happens between ages 10 and 14 for girls and ages 12 and 16 for boys. It causes physical changes, and affects boys and girls differently. In girls: The first sign of puberty is usually breast development. Then hair grows in the pubic area and armpits. Menstruation (or a period) usually happens last. In boys: Puberty usually begins with the testicles and penis getting bigger. Then hair grows in the pubic area and armpits. Muscles grow, the voice deepens, and facial hair develops as puberty continues. Both boys and girls may get acne. They also usually have a growth spurt (a rapid increase in height) that lasts for about 2 or 3 years. This brings them closer to their adult height, which they reach after puberty. NIH: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Children All about Puberty Nemours Foundation Body Hair Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health Boys and Puberty Nemours Foundation Breasts and Bras Nemours Foundation Changes to Your Breasts Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health Timing and Stages of Puberty Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health What’s an Adam’s Apple? Nemours Foundation When Will I Get My Period? Nemours Foundation Diagnosis and Tests Blood Test: Estradiol Nemours Foundation Blood Test: Testosterone Nemours Foundation How Do Health Care Providers Diagnose Precocious Puberty and Delayed Puberty? National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Teenagers Body Odor (For Girls) Children’s Hospital Boston Can I Stop Myself From Having a Wet Dream? Nemours Foundation Delayed Puberty Nemours Foundation Douching Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health Everything You Wanted to Know about Puberty Nemours Foundation Gynecomastia Nemours Foundation Why Is My Voice Changing? Nemours Foundation Clinical Trials ClinicalTrials.gov: Puberty National Institutes of Health Related Issues Concerns Boys Have about Puberty American Academy of Pediatrics Concerns Girls Have about Puberty American Academy of Pediatrics Sweating Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health Talking to Your Child about Puberty Nemours Foundation Specifics Delayed Puberty Hormone Health Network Precocious Puberty (For Parents) Nemours Foundation Statistics and Research Early Puberty Linked to Higher Type 2 Diabetes Risk American Diabetes Association Genetics Genetics Home Reference: familial male-limited precocious puberty National Library of Medicine Find an Expert KidsHealth Nemours Foundation National Institute of Child Health and Human Development National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Start Here Physical Development: What’s Normal? What’s Not? American Academy of Pediatrics Puberty and Precocious Puberty National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Puberty: What to Expect When Your Child Goes through Puberty American Academy of Family Physicians Understanding Puberty (For Parents) Nemours Foundation What Are Normal Puberty, Precocious Puberty, and Delayed Puberty? National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Array Precocious puberty Puberty in boys Puberty in girls Journal Articles Puberty Treatments and Therapies What Are Common Treatments for Problems of Puberty? National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Symptoms What Are the Symptoms of Puberty, Precocious Puberty, and Delayed Puberty? National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
