PUBERTY!

My kiddos are only 5 and 7 years old. But I am still already dreading the transition known as puberty.

There’s so many changes in hormone regulation. If my own pubertal experience is any indication of how my daughter will transition, I’m in for a rough journey.

Puberty is a normal physiologic transition with a huge spectrum of what’s considered normal. As the hypothalamic pituitary ovarian axis matures (more on that later!), girls will see the development of their secondary sexual characteristics.

Expect to see initial changes between 8 and 13 years old.

• Thelarche (Breast development) – Usually happens first, usually around age 10
• Pubarche (pubic hair growth) – Sometimes this will happen first; usually the breast and pubic hair growth happens during a 3 year span along with an increase in height
• Menarche (period starts)- usually starts around age 12-13

Again, there’s a huge spectrum of normal, but if no secondary sexual characteristics are noted by age 13 or if periods haven’t started by age 16 then see your FĒNOM gynecologist.