Acceleration is a ubiquitous phenomenon. The accelerated sexual development of adolescents today worries psychologists and doctors. Premature ripening can lead to unforeseen consequences. Outwardly, a teenager may seem quite old - this is the anatomical features of the puberty in boys and girls. However, a tall or lush bust does not indicate stabilization of the hormonal background and the final maturation of the brain. Let’s try to figure out how the physical and sexual development of children normally goes, and what their parents should pay attention to.
What is puberty?
In the body, each of us has its own biological clock. This abstract concept explains the timeliness of the growth and development of the body, the appearance and withering of reflexes, functions. In infancy, babies suck their fingers and learn to walk, but after a few years, having acquired many skills, they go to school to learn the world. Women develop wrinkles over the years, and old people have gray hair. All these and many other natural changes are a consequence of the normal functioning of the endocrine system, as well as the hypothalamus and pituitary gland. These glands are located in the brain and secrete hormonal substances necessary to trigger age-related biological processes.
Each transition period has its own characteristics. But the course of puberty brings the most stress to the body. The changes that occur with the fragile children's body cannot be counted, but right now we will try to put everything in order.
The development of germ cells and organs in representatives of both sexes takes place in three stages. In girls and boys, they do not occur simultaneously:
- Prepubertal. In boys, it begins at age 8 and ends closer to eleven. In girls, it begins 1-2 years earlier.
- Puberty. The age at which children can be considered adolescents is also different. In boys, it is observed in 11-17 years, in girls it usually ends by 15 years.
- Growing up. Girls are considered sexually mature at the age of 15-18 years. The formation of young men is completed by 19-20 years.
How boys grow up
Puberty in boys begins with the formation of secondary sexual characteristics, the impetus for which is an increase in the body's concentration of androgens of a testicular nature in the body.
The process of maturation of the male reproductive system starts with a change in the size of the genitals. First, the longitudinal diameter of each testicle increases, acquires pigmentation and folding of the scrotum. By the age of 11-12, a teenager develops pubic and axillary hair growth. In rare cases, vegetation in the intimate areas occurs before the testicles increase in volume. This is not the norm, such a violation causes excessive production of androgens. In medicine, this phenomenon is called accelerated adrenarch.
As the testicular volume grows, the size of the penis becomes larger. First, its length increases, and then its diameter. Pigmentation (darkening of the skin) continues to increase.
Around the age of 13-14, a young man develops hair on his face, neck, and chest. At this age, the genitals may well correspond to the size of adult men, but it is too early to talk about the onset of puberty. Spermatogenesis should testify to this. The first ejaculations and pollutions occur closer to 16 years. Puberty in boys lasts until 19-20 years, but they become fertile, that is, able to fertilize the female egg, earlier.
Another change that occurs under the influence of increased secretion of male hormones is the acquisition by the body of characteristic architectonics: an increase in the shoulder girdle, growth of bones and muscles.
How teenage girls are changing
Puberty in girls also begins with the appearance of secondary signs, and the establishment of a regular menstrual and ovulatory cycle indicates its completion. The first noticeable changes are expressed by breast enlargement: under the area of the areola, the glandular tissue becomes denser, and the paranasal region darkens. Breast growth is ensured by the secretion of estrogen - at the age of 10-11 years they are produced in sufficient quantities. Often girls are frightened by asymmetry (one breast seems larger), which disappears only during the formation of the mature gland.
The next secondary sign of sexual development in women is pubic and axillary hair growth. Most often, hair growth in the armpits indicates the approach of the menarche - the first menstruation. Despite the fact that the process of the formation of sexual characteristics most often occurs in this sequence, approximately 1% of girls first develop hair growth. The improper course of puberty is caused by the increased presence of male hormones in the body.
In parallel with the development of the reproductive system, the architectonics of the body changes. In girls, weight gain occurs due to the build-up of predominantly adipose tissue. She begins to “accumulate” in the body from the age of six. In early puberty, adipose tissue is redistributed and deposited in the hips and pelvis.
Several stages of maturation of boys and girls
So, each of the periods of sexual development can be briefly described as follows:
- A kind of preparation for the upcoming changes is a prepubertal period. Within 2-3 years, the body accumulates enough strength to make a big leap in growth and sexual development. Next comes the teenage period, with the peculiarities of which every person has to face.
- For adolescence (puberty), intense growth, increased work of the sex glands, and significant changes in the figure are characteristic. Representatives of both sexes also change their voice: in boys, due to a mutation, it becomes low and deep, in girls it loses its sonority.
- Growing up. Consolidation of acquired sexual characteristics, stunting, the beginning of an active sexual life and reproduction of offspring.
Negative manifestations of puberty
In addition, with the onset of puberty, girls and boys experience similar health problems. Often, adolescents suffer from inflammation of the sebaceous glands, the spread of acne on the face, back, shoulders, sometimes buttocks. Glossy oily skin aged 12–16 years is prone to acne.
Possible pain in the muscles and joints, dizziness and fainting, impaired coordination. In girls, the chest and lower abdomen can often hurt, and before the first menstruation - pull the lower back heavily.
The complex nature of the teenager
The sexual development of both sexes is accompanied by another important aspect - psychological. Parents know firsthand the difficulties of adolescence. Changes in character and rebellious behavior are predominantly hormonal in nature. A clear sign of "internal withdrawal", provoked by the admission of a large amount of testosterone and estrogen into the adolescent’s blood, is a sharp mood swings. Girls are more sensitive to hormonal changes. They can become violent for no specific reason, and after five minutes - compassionate and tearful.
It is immediately worth noting that such mental phenomena in adolescents are not treated. To help a child overcome puberty is able to properly selected diet. To alleviate the hormonal “storm” of a teenager, it is important to minimize the daily amount of calories entering the body, excluding primarily fast carbohydrates, chocolate, caffeine, energy drinks and fatty foods. It is better to give priority in nutrition to animal products containing calcium and protein, which are especially necessary during the period of active growth. In addition to this, it is important for girls to constantly replenish iron deficiency. It is found in beef liver, pomegranate juice, apples, red meat.
If a teenager is experiencing severe puberty, you should contact a neurologist or psychotherapist. Boys and girls are usually recommended to drink vitamins, homeopathic sedatives and adaptogens (extract of echinacea, lemongrass, succinic acid).
What diseases do teenagers have?
As already mentioned, the age-related development of germ cells and the reproductive system in general is not the most favorable period for the body. Adolescence is a kind of “starting hook” for activating a number of diseases and pathological conditions. In the puberty, gastritis is often exacerbated, cholecystitis, diabetes mellitus is detected. The first attacks of migraine in most girls suffering from this problem occurred just in adolescence. Myopia, decompensation of congenital but not yet diagnosed heart diseases, scoliosis, flat feet - in children aged 10 to 16 there are enough chances for such manifestations. In severe cases, juvenile schizophrenia or oncology develops.
On the other hand, active growth during the formation of young men and women allows many to “outgrow” asthma, enuresis, and adenoids. It happens that a child’s allergic reaction weakens or completely disappears.
Reproductive system disorders
There are specific diseases typical only for adolescents. The most common ones are:
- Acne is an inflammation of the sebaceous glands, which is manifested by profuse acne eruptions. By 17-18 years, as a rule, passes independently.
- Gynecomastia - breast enlargement in boys. It occurs in young men suffering from overweight and testosterone deficiency in the body.
- Hirsutism - excessive hair growth in girls. A dark fluff over the upper lip, hairs around the nipples and along the white line of the abdomen are an occasion to consult an endocrinologist who will prescribe hormone tests and the corresponding steroid treatment.
- Menorrhagia - menstruation that lasts longer than 6 days. For menorrhagia, abundant discharge characters. The intensity and duration of menstruation often leads to anemia. Metrorrhagia - untimely menstrual bleeding can occur during the first year of the cycle.
Too early: causes of acceleration
Speaking of violations of sexual development, they have in mind two options: premature maturation and its delay. Sometimes in the internal system of the body, which determines the rhythm of its life, a malfunction occurs, and natural processes occur sooner or later.
So, acceleration is a premature sexual development that begins in boys under 9 years old, and in girls - up to 8. At such an early age, the body is not yet ready for puberty changes. In the future, premature sexual development leads to an early extinction of reproductive functions. In addition, accelerated children often begin an early sexual life, which is dangerous to health, especially in the case of an unplanned unwanted pregnancy.
Pathological causes of acceleration are disorders in the endocrine system, benign and malignant brain tumors, pituitary gland, adrenal gland diseases and malfunctioning of the sex glands. If the first signs of acceleration occur, consult a doctor. To prevent the early onset of puberty, doctors recommend that parents do not overfeed their children, limit their intake of carbohydrates and give them to the sports section.
Five-year-old mother from the Guinness Book of Records
The most famous case in the history of a girl with early puberty is simply shocking. Peruvian Lina Medina at the time of the birth of her son was only 5 years and 7 months. Despite the fact that the origin of the pregnancy remained unclear, in 1939 her son was born completely healthy with a weight of 2700 g. Doctors who performed a cesarean section published a report in which they noted that Larina had a menarche at 2 years and 8 months, and by 4 over the years, her mammary glands were almost formed.
Early adulthood is caused by either natural or pathological causes. Today, many doctors believe that the cause of premature onset of puberty is hormonal additives in livestock feed, the meat of which we eat, substances released from plastic packaging and plastics. Early maturity does not pass sequentially: for example, a boy may suddenly become sexually attracted and have a full erection, and only then will body hair develop.
Delayed secondary sexual characteristics
There is another situation in adolescents - delayed sexual development. This disorder is characterized by the absence of secondary sexual characteristics by the age of 14-15: girls have no vegetation on their bodies, their breasts are practically undeveloped, and the boy’s penis size does not increase. Sometimes such a delay in development is considered normal. Panic ahead of time is not worth it if the teenager has an asthenic physique.
Also, the cause of the delay can be a serious illness, anorexia (in girls) or professional sports. But if secondary sexual characteristics do not appear by the age of 16, it is simply necessary to consult a doctor: there may be genetic abnormalities.
A detailed examination is needed for girls with male-type body hair, formed by the breast and the absence of menstruation - such symptoms can be caused by an abnormal absence of the uterus with functioning ovaries.
Recommendations to parents
The health of the child in puberty must be carefully monitored. It is important that the teenager eat right and rest. For preventive purposes, it is advisable to take laboratory and clinical tests of urine and blood every year - this simplest type of examination is a fairly effective way to identify inflammatory processes in the body.
Parents are also responsible to their children for their sexual education. Lessons in the form of explanatory conversations about the rules of hygiene, the dangers of early sex life and contraception should be carried out with every teenager, no matter how adult and omniscient he considers himself to be.