Lots of girls and guys worry about when their bodies will
develop. Guys wonder when their voices will get deeper, when
they'll need to shave, or when their
penises
will grow. Girls want to know when their breasts will develop or
when they'll get their first period. If a friend or a younger
brother or sister develops first, they may worry that there's
something wrong with them.
The fact is that physical development starts at different times
and progresses at different rates in different people. So, the
beginning of the development that comes with
puberty
varies from person to person - and that's completely
normal.
The earliest physical change of puberty for girls is usually
breast development, which most often begins around 10 or 11 years.
But it's perfectly normal for breast development to start
anytime between the ages of 8 and 13. A girl's first
menstrual period
usually occurs about 2 years after breast development begins.
Boys begin their development on average around age 11 or 12, but
it's also normal to begin anytime between the ages of 9 and 15.
Girls and guys who start developing earlier or later than these
ranges can still be normal, but they should be checked by their
doctor just to be sure.
For both boys and girls, it usually takes several years after
the first changes of puberty begin before they're all complete
- and there's a lot of variation from person to person. So, two
normally developing guys or girls who are the same age can appear
quite different from each other. One can look older and more
physically mature than the other. But the one who started later
will catch up in time.
Can I Do Anything to Speed Up Development?
You can't do anything to make your body develop faster. Of
course, you should eat a nutritious diet, exercise, and get enough
sleep. But special diets, dietary supplements, or creams won't
do anything to make normal puberty happen quicker.
But some unhealthy things can
interfere
with development.
Steroids
, like those used for bodybuilding, can cause problems with growth,
shrink testicles (and lead to breast development) in guys and
shrink breasts, disrupt menstrual cycles, and cause excessive hair
growth in girls. (Steroids can cause other serious health problems,
too.) Girls who have
eating disorders
or who
exercise compulsively
may delay their development and hurt their health. A number of
medical conditions can also
delay puberty
and development.
If you're a girl who's 13 or older or a boy who's 15
or older and you haven't shown any signs of puberty (or if
you're younger but are still worried), talk with your
doctor
. Most of the time everything is just fine, but the doctor can
determine if there's a problem. And if there is a problem,
there's almost always treatment available that will help you
develop.
Reviewed by:
Mary L. Gavin, MD
Date reviewed: September 2006
Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice,
diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
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