Puberty

Puberty is the process of growing and changing from a child into an adult. This stage of
your life is called adolescence. These changes normally occur between the ages 8 and 14, depending on your body development and hormone levels. Chemicals in the body that produce these changes are called hormones. Puberty starts when hormones from part
of the brain (pituitary gland) act on the ovaries to begin sexual changes in girls.

This is a very confusing and awkward time for girls. Some changes that occur are the following:

• Typically experience growth spurt
• Grow larger breasts
• Get rounder, wider hips and narrower waists
• Start menstruation (periods), an irregular and inconsistent vaginal discharge
  (later becoming regular and consistent)
• The sweat glands become more active resulting in increased perspiration and requiring young people to shower more frequently and possibly to use a
  deodorant.
• The skin often becomes oily, resulting in pimples and possibly acne.
• Hair- As puberty begins, you grow pubic hair, this is the hair that is between
  your legs and covers your external genitalia. You will also grow hair under your
  arms and thicker hair on your legs

Signs of Reaching Puberty

For girls, their first menstruation, or period, is a sign that they have reached puberty.
This is a normal sign that occurs in ALL healthy girls. Menstruation lets you know you
have a normal, functioning reproductive system.

• Menstruation (or period) is a monthly discharge of blood and tissue from the uterus through the vagina.
• Depending on individual body development and hormone levels, a girl's first menstrual cycle may begin at any time.
• The first menstrual period is called menarche (meh-NAR-key).
• The first few cycles are irregular, but become regular over time, usually occurring every 28 days or so.
• One menstrual period may last between two and seven days.
• During one menstrual period, it's typical for one-half to one cup of blood and
  tissue to be discharged from start to finish.
• Some girls get premenstrual syndrome (PMS) right before their menstrual period. Symptoms of PMS include cramps and irritability and are also driven by your hormones.
• For hygiene reasons, girls should ALWAYS use tampons or sanitary pads to absorb the blood flow. Tampons (worn internally) should be changed every four hours in order to avoid the risk of a very rare bacterial infection called TSS (Toxic Shock Syndrome).
  Pads (worn inside the underwear) should be changed every four to five hours at least. Overnight pads should be changed every eight hours. Keeping them on longer can cause a foul odor. By the way, you can't get TSS from pads. Buying extra tampons or pads is a good idea so that they are on hand whenever you need them. Have some at home, but don't forget to take some with you to school in a purse or a bookbag, and keep them anywhere else you may need them. If your menstrual period comes on suddenly or when you're not home, you will always have something available to absorb the flow. Thinking ahead and being prepared can really save you a lot of potential embarrassment.
  
  Your period is something you eventually appreciate as a symbol of your womanhood. Again, everything about your period is normal- all women have gone through the same thing!