By: Diana García
Do you want to know what changes occur in women during puberty?
Maybe you are going through a lot of changes and you may wonder: When does puberty start? What are secondary sexual characters? Why does menstruation appear? Is it normal what is happening to my body?
We are going to answer your questions!
a) When does puberty start?
It generally starts between eleven and thirteen, when an ovule matures in the ovaries every month, which produce a hormone called estrogen, which in turn provokes menstruation.
b) What are the secondary sexual characters?
Estrogens are the hormones responsible for the development of the secondary sexual characters, which are:
• Pubic and arm pit hair.
• There is an increase in size of primary sexual characters.
• Breasts and hips develop; that means that you will stop being a girl little by little.
c) What does menstruation mean?
It is the first bleeding that may occur at ages 11-13. From that moment on, your body is ready to have a baby. Menstruation cycle lasts approximately 28 days, although this time may vary from one woman to the other. It is normal that the first cycles are irregular, it means ones lasts more than others. Bleeding may last between 2 to 8 days. The duration and intensity of menstrual flow and the total cycle length may be quite variable, but regularity is gradually established by the age of 18.
There are times when menstruation disappears due to a change of life style like working out too much, or changes in your nutrition, for example when you go on a diet, this phenomenon is called amenorrhea, if this happens to you frequently, go visit your doctor.
All these changes are completely normal. As it happens with any change, it is difficult to get used to it, but as soon as you get familiarized with such changes, you will realize that all this allows you to grow and develop as a better person.
Article from: “OTTE, Ana”. “Curso de Educación de la Sexualidad para Adolescentes”. Ediciones Internacionales Universitarias.
