Puberty refers to gaining the ability to reproduce and includes a variety of physical, psychological and social changes. Our bodies produce chemicals called hormones which guide the physical changes we experience during puberty. Two hormones, estrogen in girls and testosterone in boys, direct the sexual development of young women and men. It's important to realize that not everyone reaches puberty at the same time. Puberty can begin as early as age 8 or as late as age 15.
Girls generally reach puberty earlier than boys.
The age at which puberty begins is affected by the age your parents reached puberty, nutrition, percent body fat and a host of other factors. Many teenagers worry that they are developing too slow or too fast. They become anxious and embarrassed about their bodies. What's important to realize is that it's normal for everyone to be different when it comes to growing up. Learning about the stages of sexual development can help you become more comfortable with the changes taking place in your body.