FAQsQuestionI’m a 12 year old girl. I haven’t started my periods yet but I’ve already got pubic hair. Am I normal? Answer Puberty actually takes place in stages; it doesn't all happen at the same time. Pubic hair is generally the first sign of puberty. Soon after this the breasts begin to grow, starting as a soft lump under the nipple - one breast may start to develop months before the second starts to develop. Menstruation or periods start about two years later. Remember that everyone develops at their own pace. The extra hair girls grow in their pubic area and armpits when they hit puberty is caused by the hormones called androgens, which are made by the adrenal gland. As you go through puberty the ovaries start making female sex hormones called oestrogen and progesterone. These two hormones, together with hormones made in the brain, are the ones that kick off your periods and keep you having periods regularly. Have a look at The Hormone Factory for more information on puberty http://www.thehormonefactory.com Further reading: |
