A Girl’s Guide to Dealing with the Issues of Puberty

Going through the big change can be rough on a girl. Not only is your body changing, your mind is changing too. These changes are completely normal and mean you are becoming a woman now. There is nothing to be scared of and your body knows exactly what it is doing.

When the child begins to turn into an adult, their body begins to change. These changes can be frightening and you may at times feel embarrassed about the changes you are going through. Every adult has gone through puberty so if you have questions talk to your parents or a trusted older person. Girls may begin puberty around the ages of eight to fifteen years old. As with most things in life, this number is not a fixed age. Some girls may develop faster or slower than you may. Genetics plays an important role when girls will start puberty. Talk with your mother and you will most likely follow the same pattern she did. Again, there are no hard and fast rules. During puberty you body begins releasing hormones.

As these hormones begin to increase, your body will begin changing:

You will grow taller
Your figure will begin to fill out
You will put weight on – this is not a bad thing it simply means your body is changing to become a woman
Your breasts begin to grow – as this happens, you may begin to feel sensations in your breasts, and that they are tender. The breasts may not develop equally and this is very natural.
You will begin to grow hair around your genitals, legs, and under your arms.
You will notice that you are sweating more than you use to and when this happens it will be time to find a deodorant that works for your body and one that you like.
The external female organs begin to grow and become fuller
The uterus is growing and expanding preparing for you to become a woman
The vagina will begin producing a fluid. This is normal and necessary. The discharge is the way your body cleans itself. If you begin to notice a discharge in your underwear this is a signal that you will probably begin your period anywhere from six to eighteen months. Normally the discharge does not have an odor – if you notice there is an odor you need to make an appointment with your doctor.

Your period is an exciting time for a girl because this signals you are becoming a young woman. It may be a bit uncomfortable for the first couple of years this is normal. Your body is getting used to the changes. You will begin to notice that on a certain day each month your period will begin. You will notice how you feel a week or so before it starts and this is a warning for you to carry tampons or pads with you.

What is happening when you are having your period is that your body is discharging the lining of the uterus. This is bloody and often has mucus with it. For the next several days you will pass it through the vagina – this is your bleeding and is very natural. A few days before and sometimes during the early part of your period, you may experience cramping. This feels kind of like having a bad stomach. This cramping will subside as you near the end of your period. Usually your period starts light to medium, then flows heavy for a couple of days, and then begins to taper off. Just after your period ends, your body gets ready for a pregnancy.

Hormones in your body signal your ovaries to release an egg, which travels through the fallopian tubes. Another hormone then prepares the uterus to receive the potentially fertilized egg. If you are sexually active and have unprotected sex this is the time when you could get pregnant. If you are not sexually active then you do not need birth control at this time. However, if you are sexually active, remember now is the time to use a birth control method. As you will move into your period, your uterus does not have an egg to carry because it will begin the discharge process. Once you have been, having your period for a while you will notice that you fall into a cycle. Most women have their period every 28 to 34 days.