Our bodies begin changing as soon as we are born, but there comes a time of bigger change, when our bodies get ready for adulthood – it’s called Puberty. This is when we mature in both mind and body, and become interested in new things.

This important period of change can take from one to six years and marks a defining moment when your body begins to look more like a woman’s and less like a girl’s. Keep in mind that every girl matures at her own pace, but eventually we all catch up. Puberty is the gateway to adolescence.

Adolescence is sort of a jumping off point from childhood to adulthood. The changes of adolescence don’t happen on a strict timeline or overnight; instead they occur at different times based on your unique internal calendar. We’ll be honest -- adolescence can be a tough time. You’re sort of caught between being a kid and being a grownup, and sometimes you don’t know what to do or think.

What Causes All These Changes?

Hormones are the driving force for adolescent changes. Your brain knows when your body is getting close to maturity and sends out chemical signals called hormones. Different hormones are responsible for different changes. As you approach puberty, the brain and a little gland just under it called the pituitary gland, release hormones that tell your reproductive organs what to do. These hormones wake up your ovaries telling them it’s time to start producing the female hormones called estrogen and progesterone.

Growth hormones are also jump started during puberty-- they make the body grow sometimes very quickly. Arms and legs grow longer and your internal organs get larger, as your body experiences a major growth surge. This lasts about two to three years.

Some girls can even grow four inches in one year during what’s known as the “growth spurt”. When this passes, you’ll be at your adult height. As you grow taller, your body will change in other ways, too. You’ll gain a little weight and your overall shape will change. These changes all mark the normal development that happens during puberty.

Girls usually become curvier, gaining weight on their hips, and developing breasts. You will notice an increase in overall body fat, which is what makes you rounder and womanly. If you ever have questions or concerns about your weight, talk it over with your mom or another trusted adult, and don’t wig out about it, since its all part of the puberty deal. One to two years after a girl's breasts start to develop, they usually experience their first menstrual period. This is yet another change that tells you that puberty is happening.

Another early sign of puberty is new hair growth in places where you haven’t seen it before– you’ll begin to grow hair under your arms and in the pubic area. As puberty progresses, this hair usually gets thicker and darker.

Another sign of puberty is acne, which is caused by the hormones that surge during puberty. As you enter puberty, the hormones awaken the glands under your arms and may cause "body odor". This is normal and everybody gets it, so don’t feel embarrassed or dirty. It can be stronger in some teens, but this is not common.

Hormones are also responsible for the confusing feelings you may have during puberty. You may experience fits of crying or anger, feel sad, or have mood swings. Being overly sensitive or losing your temper easily may occur. But don’t worry; it’s just those hormones again! But if you feel really out of control or depressed, talk to your mom or your doctor.

When Does Puberty Happen?

For girls, puberty can begin as early seven and as late as fourteen. Sometimes the physical and emotional changes of puberty don't happen at the same time. A girl can mature emotionally before she does physically. The opposite is also true. Sometimes kids who enter puberty early are not prepared for the many changes going on in their bodies. These feelings can make you very self-conscious and even feel kind of like an outsider. But you are definitely not, and are just going through normal changes!

Common Concerns of Adolescents

Adolescence can bring some real challenges -- you may find that you’re not getting along with your parents or siblings like you used to, and worry more about relationships with your peers. School might suddenly seem like a struggle, too. And your parents might start worrying about you more, especially your safety. Common concerns related to adolescence include: risky behavior, rebelliousness, slacking off, mood swings, drugs and drinking and school problems, as well as sexual activity. Communication between family members can help make things much less stressful!

Personal identity is an overwhelming concern among adolescents. It’s a time when you may search for who you want to be and how to express that.

If you are going through these changes and find it difficult, just remember it’s temporary, and the reward will be you as a young woman! Talk to your parents about how you are feeling -- they went through puberty and adolescence, too, (believe it or not) – or talk to a friend. Your friends are probably dealing with the same problems so talking about it with them will help you with feelings you might have of being strange or alone.

The Menstrual Cycle Story

Every healthy female gets her period eventually. A sticky white discharge coming from your vagina is a sign that your period is not far off. Once you get it, your body will be capable of bearing children.

The first day of your period is the beginning of your menstrual cycle – the cycle is a series of changes in your hormone levels that occurs every month, signaling your body to send an egg to your uterus for possible fertilization and pregnancy.

Your ovaries contain all of the eggs you will produce in a lifetime. You have two ovaries, one on either side of the uterus. Once a month, ovulation occurs, which is when a single egg matures and is released from one of your ovaries. It travels through the fallopian tube into the uterus. If the egg is not fertilized in the uterus, it is shed along with the uterine lining. This is your period. Your menstrual flow (a mixture of blood and fluid) goes from the uterus through the opening of the cervix, through the vagina, and out of the body. Your menstrual cycle is over when your next period begins.