When do you know puberty starts?

Ah, puberty! That awkward stage where you’re constantly questioning everything about yourself – from the shape of your nose to whether or not you still want to be friends with Stacy. But fear not, dear reader! We’re here to guide you through the murky waters and help answer that age-old question: When do you know puberty starts?

Wait, What is Puberty Exactly?

Before we dive into when it all begins, let’s first recap on what exactly puberty is (because let’s face it, Biology class was years ago). In technical terms (as if we needed any more complicated language), puberty refers to “the period during which adolescents reach sexual maturation and become capable of reproduction”.

In simpler terms…it’s when your body goes a bit haywire. Hormones start running rampant throughout your system and before long it feels like every part of you and even some parts that shouldn’t exist yet are growing uncontrollably.

The Age-Old Question: So When Does It Start?

Well folks, there isn’t really an ‘exact’ answer to this question as everyone develops at different rates. However, generally speaking most people begin going through pubertal changes between ages 8-14 for girls (we know what they say about being fashionably late) and ages 9-15 for boys.

Of course these numbers should be taken with a grain of salt since everybody has their own internal clock ticking away (no pun intended). Here are some signs to look out for:

Signs Indicating Puberty Has Begun

Now I’m no fortune teller but if any or all of these things happen to someone in your household/pub quiz team/workplace/favourite bar next week then congrats matey-boy-o-girl-girl-person-of-non-specific-gender-specifications…puberty time!

Physical Changes

The obvious

  • Breast development in females
  • Testicular and penis growth in males (an awkward topic to bring up at the dinner table)
  • Body hair…everywhere! Yes, even there.
  • Growth spurt. Suddenly you’re towering over your friends like an adult-sized baby-giraffe-human hybrid.
  • Oily skin and gasp acne

Emotional & Behavioural Changes

Basically a recipe for a Netflix teen-drama

Puberty is – as previously stated – all about those raging hormones (I see you eye roll). These can often result in some emotionally confusing experiences before things begin to level out again.

Here are some changes people might experience:

Positive Signs

optimism exists everyone

- More independent thinking: Not taking adults opinions or thoughts only but one's own decisions that may be different from what we've been told to do since birth "that boy should not help with cooking, he is too young."
-Discovering sexuality    
- Sense of humor grows

Negative Signs

Inserts minor key music here

SIGNS REMEDY
Mood swings (chocolate or ice cream works wonders)
Impulsiveness (thinking twice when it comes to buying outrageous outfits )

Let’s face it folks, puberty isn’t always pretty (or cute) but everybody goes through it so there’s nothing really embarrassing about talking openly about these signs.

What Should You Do If Puberty Hasn’t Started Yet?

Noticing that most of your classmates have suddenly started stealing their dad’s aftershave (we know it stings guys) while their voices sound like they swallowed a frog can be worrying sometimes especially if you haven’t hit any of the abovementioned signs yet. It gets better because I’m here!

In some cases differences in development can be due to genetics and just plain ol’ luck – so don’t freak out. Chatting with your doctor is always a good shout if you’re feeling unsure.

Conclusion

So there you have it, folks! Puberty might just feel like an endless shopping trip where you get dragged into shops that disgusts you but eventually everyone makes it through the other side. As Carrie Bradshaw said; “We all hit rock bottom at one point or another“. Just know that things will probably still suck for awhile after puberty (sorry) but at least we’ll all be able to gossip about our rebellious teenage years together someday (cue laughter).

Now go forth and brave those hormone waves!

Peace out

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