Health / Unit 9: Growth, Development and Community Health
9.1 Puberty and Physical Changes
Notes
Adolescence is the stage between childhood and adulthood. Puberty is the period when the body matures and becomes able to reproduce. It is controlled by hormones, chemical messengers made by glands.
- Puberty usually starts between about ages 8 and 14 and takes several years. The timing is different for everyone, and that is normal.
- Changes for everyone: growth spurt, body hair, more sweat and body odor, oily skin and acne, and changes in voice and body shape.
- In females, hormones such as estrogen cause breast development and the start of menstruation (periods), usually around ages 10 to 15.
- In males, testosterone causes testicles to grow, the voice to deepen and facial hair to grow.
- Hygiene tips: shower or wash daily, use deodorant, wash your face and change clothes.
- Questions about changes are normal. A parent, school nurse, doctor or teacher can answer them.
Practice
What controls the changes of puberty?
Hormones signal the body to mature.
A student is worried because they have not yet started puberty while some classmates have. What is the best explanation?
Puberty can start anywhere across a range of ages.
Which change happens to both males and females in puberty?
Both experience growth spurts, new hair, sweat and oil changes.
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