Stages of Puberty in Girls

Puberty is that time when a whole lot of changes are taking place in your body, be it physical, emotional or hormonal. It is an exciting time, and every child has a unique journey. The more you understand these changes, the more confident you will feel.

Genetic and environmental factors play a role in the timing of puberty. The average puberty age for girls is 10, while that for boys is 12, but everybody is different and so it is completely normal to begin puberty anywhere between 8-14. While the stages of puberty bring with it a series of biological changes, it also affects the emotional development of the child.

The first sign of puberty in girls is the development of breasts, known as breast budding. Breast buds are small mounds of flesh that develop underneath your nipples. During breast development, you may see one side growing faster than the other, however that is nothing to worry about. It’s perfectly normal. The darker area around the nipple also expands. This is followed by hair growth in the pubic region, underarms, legs and arms.

After beginning the puberty age, in the next couple of years, girls’ breasts continue growing and the pubic hair becomes curlier and thicker. This is the stage of puberty with highest spurt of growth in height, and you may notice your hips becoming rounder. This growth typically precedes the onset of menstruation. This is accompanied by breakouts on the skin, development of body odour & hyper-active sweat glands.

In the next stage, the breasts take on a fuller shape and most girls get their first period – between the ages 12-14, but it may happen earlier as well. Height growth will slow down up to 2 to 3 inches per year. Before you get your period, you’ll start noticing a clear or milky white fluid, which is known as vaginal discharge. This is caused by your body’s changing hormones, and is your vagina’s way of staying healthy and protected. When you start getting discharge, you can use Whisper panty liners to stay fresh and dry.

Getting your period is the highlight of the puberty age for girls. A period is when you shed blood and tissue through your vagina, which happens once in a month and lasts for 3-6 days. In the beginning, the periods are likely to be irregular, short, and sometimes long. But, don’t worry as these will regularize in a year or two.

Pro tip: Stash some Whisper Ultra Clean pads in your bag, so that you are always well prepared for your periods.

Puberty can be a challenging time, as you are coping with various changes in your body. The stages of puberty are not all physical; the varied emotional changes that you may go through may seem hard. Mood swings, low self-esteem, aggression and sometimes depression can all be emotions which you goes through. However, along with these, there are exciting emotions as well, such as developing strong feelings for your peers, being able to think independently and forming your own opinions, and growing up to be a confident young woman.

Precocious puberty means early puberty age, which is more common in girls than boys. It is advisable to see a doctor in case of breast budding or pubic hair growth before the age of 8 in girls, to ensure a healthy growth.

Delayed puberty is the late onset of the varied stages of puberty for girls, which is characterized by no breast development by the age of 13 and a half. At times, delayed puberty tends to be hereditary and normal development proceeds normally after the delay. Chronic medical conditions, such as diabetes or cystic fibrosis, may be a reason for delayed onset of puberty.

Its best to consult a doctor in these cases. However, in other cases, a healthy lifestyle, good hygiene and a proper diet will help you to enjoy this exciting phase of your life to the fullest!