Puberty
Puberty is the period in human development when a child gradually changes into an adult, during which physical growth and sexual maturation occurs.[1]
Contents
Start of puberty
Puberty begins when the hypothalumus, which is part of the brain, produces a hormone that stimulates the pituitary gland, which then produces hormones called gonadotrophins that stimulate the gonads and adrenals. Gonads are the testes in males and the ovaries in females. The gonads then produce a flood of sexual hormones that stimulate growth and development of the sexual organs of both genders and in the breasts of females.
Females usually start puberty at about 10.5 years of age, and males start about a year later.[2]
Precocious puberty
Puberty sometimes starts early. When it does, it is called precocious puberty. Puberty that starts before eight years in girls and nine years in boys is considered to be precocious puberty.[2]
Onset of sexual function
Menstruation usually occurs at about 12.5 years of age, while first ejaculation usually occurs at about 13 years of age.
If a foreskinned boy's foreskin has not become retractable prior to puberty, then it will almost certainly become retractable during puberty.[3] [4] [5]
Tanner stages
Dr James Tanner, a British paediatric endocrinologist, created Tanner stages, which describes the progress of puberty through five stages.[2] [6]
End of puberty
Puberty typically lasts for 2 to 5 years. It usually ends for girls at age 15 to 17, and for boys at age 16 to 17.[2]
Note
This page is dedicated to Ethan.
See also
External links
Wikipedia article: Puberty
References
- ↑
Puberty
, Farlex Medical Dictionary. Retrieved 28 September 2025. - ↑ a b c d Anonymous (26 August 2024).
Puberty
, Cleveland Clinic. Retrieved 28 September 2025. - ↑
Øster J. Further Fate of the Foreskin: Incidence of Preputial Adhesions, Phimosis, and Smegma among Danish Schoolboys 
. Arch Dis Child. 1968; 43(228): 200-3. PMID. PMC. DOI. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
- ↑ Kayaba H, Tamura H, Kitajima S, et al. Analysis of shape and retractability of the prepuce in 603 Japanese boys. J Urol. 1 November 1996; 156(5): 1813-1815. PMID. Retrieved 28 September 2025.
- ↑ Agarwal A, Mohta A, Anand RK. Preputial retraction in children. J Indian Assoc Pediatr Surg. April 2005; 10(2): 89-91. DOI. Retrieved 28 September 2025.
- ↑
Emmanuel, Mickey, Bokor, Brooke R (2022): Tanner Stages. StatPearls. Retrieved 29 September 2025.
