Understanding the changes in you

What is Puberty?

• a stage of growth in a young person when reproductive organs become functional.


• production of sex hormones and gametes.


• development of secondary sexual characteristics.

Puberty occurs at aroung the age of 12-14 yr.

Changes in boys

• grow larger in size and start to produce sperms.


• height grow rapidly in short time.


• body becomes more muscular.


• hair growing on the face and body(especially under the armpits and around the reproductive organs)


• voice "breaks", sounds deeper.


• appetite increases

During puberty, the boy begins to produce a lot of sperms. Often, these are released form the penis at night. It is called nocturnal emission. Sometimes it happens in a dream which is sexual in content. It is normal and harmless and happens with most boys.

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Changes in girls

• height grows rapidly in short time.


• breasts grow larger.


• hips become rounder and wider.


• hair grows on the armpit and around the reproductive organs


• menstruation begins

As puberty occurs at different ages for different people, never worry if you develop earlier or later than your friends. Example; if you are shorter than your classmates now, you amy be taller than them in a few years.

Menstruation

At puberty, the eggs ripen at different times. When the eggs is ripe, it is released from the ovary, called ovulation, which occurs about once every 28 days. The two ovaries take turns to release eggs.

At about the same time, the uterus become thicker and has more blood to prepare the uterus to have a baby. If the egg is fertilised, it grows in the uterus. The ovaries then stop releasing eggs until the baby is born.

If the eggs is not fertilised, it dies.Therefore the thick lining of the uterus is no needed. Together with the blood, they comes out of the vagina. This removal is called menstruation or 'period' and lasts from 3 to 7 days.

Ovulation and menstruation are part of the menstrual cycle. A typical cycle last for 28 days, though some may vary. The length of a cycle is from the first day of one menstruation to the first day of the next menstruation.

Periods may be irrigular at first, but as one gets older, it becomes more regular. In a cycle, ovulation usually occurs about 14 days before menstruation.

Emotions

At puberty , the feelings of young people begin to change:

• opposite sex become more interesting and attractive


• look at themselves and asked questions


• become shy with opposite sex


• embarrassed with the changes

Most importantly, we should be positive about our appearance and feelings because they are normal at this time.