Puberty related changes in girls
Mothers of young girls often have a lot of queries when it comes to puberty, even though they have gone through this phase themselves. Usually, the main thoughts are around :
- Is my little girl going through a normal pubertal development?
- At what age will she start with the body changes? Are the changes occurring in her normal? Physiological?
- What should I be looking out for when she is going through this phase?
- Should I be taking her for a gynec appointment?
- Any blood tests that needs to be done?
- Is she having menarche at the correct age? Anything to be concerned?
So, an understanding of normal pubertal development will equip the parents to avoid unnecessary panic and confusion and to take the right steps if at all anything needed. This post aims at answering some of the common questions to help parents approach their daughter’s puberty.
What is puberty?
It is when a child’s body begins to develop and change to become an adult. During this phase, the child goes through physical(bodily) and emotional changes. Full pubertal development usually takes 3 to 4 years and it occurs in a rather predictable sequence.
In girls, at what age does puberty set in?
For girls, pubertal changes in the body start by 9 to 11 years of age (usually after the 8th birthday)
What are the sequence of changes noticed in girls during puberty?
Your little girl will show off some bodily changes at the onset of this phase, the first being breast development. The typical sequence of events that happen in a pubertal girl is as follows.
- Breast development – usually starts after 8 years of age.
- Appearance of pubic and armpit hair
- Child grows taller
- Slimy discharge from vagina
- Menarche (first menstrual period) at an average age of 12-13 yrs
What is menarche and at what age does it happen?
It is the first menstrual period in a girl and one of the major events of puberty. Menarche is a significant event that signals a host of changes the body is embarking upon – a journey towards motherhood. Usually it sets in within 2 to 3 years of start of breast development – at an average age of 12 -13 yrs.
During puberty what all changes require evaluation
Below are the main situations that one should be looking out for and warrants medical consultation during puberty
- These 2 situations are considered as early (precocious puberty)
- Breast development starting before the age of 8 years
- Menarche occurring before 9 years
- These 3 situations are classified as delayed puberty
- Menarche not happening within three years of breast development
- No breast development by the age of 13
- No menarche by the age of 15
Does she need a health visit during puberty?
A gynec consultation is not an immediate requirement if:
- She is of normal height and weight
- No other medical issues
- Going through the above mentioned changes normally
- No excess hair growth, troublesome acne or eating disorders
However, a gynec consultation / health visit is recommended for adolescent girls between 13 to 15 years of age.
Puberty can be uncomfortable and pretty intense for some girls. She may have a lot of queries about the changes that she is going through. She may not be able to open up about all of them with her parents. The recommended health visit is mainly for educational and counselling purposes and to build a rapport with the doctor. An understanding about the puberty changes will help her prepare on what to expect during this phase and how to properly address to avoid confusion.
We will discuss about approach to menarche, bleeding pattern and menstrual hygiene in pubertal girls in subsequent posts.