Originated in the Latin word pubertasPuberty is a concept that describes the initial stage of adolescence , a period in which there are transformations that mark the end of childhood and the beginning of adult development.
The process of physical modifications of puberty turns the infant into an adult already able to reproduce sexually . In addition, the physical differences between the male and female gender are enhanced: before entering puberty, both boys and girls differ only by their genitals, but after puberty differences in shapes, dimensions, are noticed. composition and functional development of various body structures. For each gender the consequences of puberty are different.
In women, hormones such as estradiol , an estrogen that stimulates the growth of the breasts and the uterus. The main female physical transformations have to do with the appearance of pubic hair, alterations of the vagina, the uterus, and the ovaries, the onset of menstruation and fertile conditions, changes in the pelvic structure, the fixation of fat and changes in body composition, increase in height and the appearance of body odor, in addition to suffering dermal transformations and acne .
It is called menarche The first menstrual period, which occurs in those young people who enter puberty, is the main sign to identify this period. But before a girl has a menarche, she may notice other changes in her body such as an increase in height, whitish secretions of the vagina and hair growth throughout the body. After the first menstruation it is normal for some time to pass without the girl having new periods , until these become monthly and regular.
In women, the puberty stage usually ends at about 17, after this period it is unusual for girls not to have a normal cycle or continue to increase in height.
In children the clearest sign is the enlargement of testicles and later an abrupt growth of stature and the increase of hair in the whole body, even in the face. They will also have what is called "nocturnal pollution" (ejaculations during the night) and will notice an important change in the voice. Another consequence is the process of adrenarche that is characterized by sweating , acne, body odor and a hair gain pubic.
There is no exact age at which a child enters puberty but this depends on many factors, such as genetic, nutritional and external (lived experiences that accelerate or delay development ), however, this period is considered to range from 13 to 17 years.
Puberty and emotions
Changes during this stage occur because the endocrine glands they make more hormones; in the case of women, the ovaries increase their production of estrogen and other important female and male hormones, it is the testicles that increase the production of testosterone , the consequence of all this is an absolute change in the physiognomy of those people who leave their infant body to have an adult.
In any case, changes in puberty are not only physical, but they are linked to a process of psychological and emotional maturation very important.
Physical changes cause young people a emotional condition profound, in many cases because they have not even been prepared for it, because the parents have not spoken to them frontally, or because they have been overprotected to the point of not giving them the space to know and take care of themselves.
All this will make the young man feel disoriented and manifest it through a great irritability, instability and high sensitivity which will lead you to respond immediately to what bothers or hurts you. This period should be taken less lightly, many times all these changes cause the children feel very alone and in many cases they become depressed and lack of company and understanding can greatly assert the child's damaged feelings, causing them to fall into a well from which in many cases they no longer return.
It should be noted that there is the early puberty , a phenomenon characterized by abnormally early development. This can be generated by the presence of estrogens in the environment (following the intake of medications or foods that have been exposed to estrogens), sedentary lifestyle or obesity .
