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Understanding reproductive change during puberty of Girls and Boys
Children go through many changes from about nine years old to the time about nineteen. They change from girls and boys into women and men. One goes through these changes whether one is ready or not -- whether one want to or not -- and whether or not one knows what is going on.
Our bodies change during these growing periods. Our feelings also change, about ourselves, our families, and about other relations. Sometimes it seems the changes happen too fast. Sometimes we feel they don't happen fast enough. It can be very confusing. Even the words that describe these stages of our lives seem a little strange -- words like "puberty" or "adolescence." More we know about what's happening to us, the better we can feel about growing up.
All these changes have something to do with reproduction. The most important thing about growing up is learning about our sexuality and how we cope up with the changes. Vulva and penis are located in the front of the body between the legs. Only girls/women have vulva. The labia, clitoris, urethra, and opening to the vagina are all part of the vulva. Girls have to use hand-mirror to see the parts of their vulva. Only boys/men have penis. The penis is easier to see than the vulva. It hangs away from the body. Often the glans at the tip of the penis is covered by a foreskin. If it isn't, it means the foreskin was removed during early childhood, called circumcision, may be due to medical or religious purpose. Two testicles that look like balls hang beneath the penis in a sac called the scrotum.
Girls and boys touch their own sex organs for pleasure from the time they are small babies. The clitoris gets stimulated to give self pleasure, when touched by girls themselves with fingers. The penis, especially the tip of the penis (glan), gives pleasure to boys, when touched. Touching and stroking own sex organs for pleasure is called masturbation. Masturbation is a normal, healthy part of life enjoyed by teenagers as well as adults. However, some people choose not to masturbate. Some people are ashamed to admit that they do. Masturbation is not harmful. It does not cause acne or any of the other awful things like HIV/AIDS.
Puberty happens to everybody. Generally, girls’ puberty start earlier than boys. Some girls begin puberty as early as age eight. Some don't start until they are 14. Boys' bodies start changing from age 11or so. The changes in the body are completed before a person is 19. Some of the changes are common for girls and boys. The height and weight increase. Growth of hair under the arms and surround the penis or vulva. Sweating increases under the arms, so more washing and use of deodorants start. Also, the voice deepens, usually in boys than in girls. Many teenagers get pimples during puberty. Some only get a few. Some get many. Pimples on the face, back, chest, or buttocks are normal. Hormonal changes and the glands under it start making more oil. The pores get clogged and infected. Even the oil from dirty hair can infect our pores.
Pituitary glands release hormones that guide the reproductive changes in our bodies. Two of these hormones - estrogen in girls and testosterone in boys - guide the growth into women and men. Often the growth and changes are so fast that we feel clumsy. Girls have many changes that estrogen causes. Their breasts begin to get fuller. Often one breast grows faster than the other. Their hips get rounder. Their vulva and clitoris grow slightly. Many girls have a white, sticky discharge from their vagina. This is a perfect sign that the changes of puberty have begun. Sometimes, this discharge gets on a girl's underwear. She shouldn't worry about it unless her vulva becomes itchy or irritated. If it does, she should visit gynecologist.
Boys see hormonal changes, too. Their testicles get bigger and hang lower, often one hangs lower than the other. The penis grows larger. The penis also gets hard (erection) more often and unexpectedly. Boys usually start growing beards after their voices change. Beards grow very slowly for the first couple of years. Sometimes boys' breasts become tender and large too, which lasts only a year or two, and then returns to normal again.
These hormonal changes also can cause abrupt swings in the mood. Puberty and adolescence make us feel like we're on an emotional roller coaster. One moment you feel like kid, while next moment you behave like an adult. Teenagers are in search of a self identity. The growth also depends on our parents called heredity. Eye color and skin color are inherited generally. Girls also inherit large breasts or small breasts, thin legs or thick legs. Boys also inherit big penis or small penis, and thick beards or thin beards. But we are all very different, no matter what -- and that is normal.
During puberty, most girls start having menstruation periods. Most boys start having wet dreams. And girls and boys begin having a lot more thoughts and feelings about sex. Sometimes they get really turned on due to fantasy. Important changes happen inside the body by the time wet dreams and periods begin. These changes mean that the reproductive system is maturing. As boys mature, they begin producing sperm. Sperm are the male reproductive cells. As girls mature, the eggs in their ovaries begin to ripen. Eggs are the female reproductive cells.
Penises and breasts vary in size. Soft adult penis is usually between 3 to 4 inches long. When they are hard, most adult penis vary from four to seven inches long. Some may be shorter or longer. Five to Six inches is the average length of an erect adult penis. Women's breasts are different in shape and size. They are mammary glands; primarily produce milk after a woman has a baby. A woman's breasts can give her sexual pleasure when they are touched. Small or large, a woman's breasts can provide enough milk for her baby.
Some boys and girls like big penis or big breasts. However, being attractive, cool, hot, cute, sexy, masculine, or feminine doesn't depend on how big breasts or penis are. What makes people attractive to other people depends more on overall personality -- how we think of ourselves, present ourselves, take care of ourselves, and the respect we show for other people.