Child Health A-Z

Problems in Puberty

Puberty is the time of a person's life when his/her body changes from child to adult, accompanied by the process of sexual maturation. Puberty is caused by changes in hormones and includes both physical and emotional growth. In addition, with the onset of puberty, the secondary sexual characteristics begin to develop, such as pubic hair, breasts in girls, and a deepening of the voice in boys. On average, puberty begins in girls between the ages of nine and 16 and in boys between the ages of 13 and 15.

Sometimes, puberty may occur earlier or later than usual. In addition, certain tumors that grow on the reproductive organs, such as the ovaries, can stimulate the early secretion of estrogen (female sex hormone) or androgen (male sex hormone), causing early outward appearances of puberty.

Problems with puberty require the clinical care of a physician or other healthcare professional. Listed in the directory below are some problems associated with puberty, for which we have provided a brief overview.

Last Update
February 3, 2008