Puberty

Female Anatomy

The female reproductive system is made up of two ovaries, two fallopian tubes, a uterus (womb), cervix (neck of the womb), vagina, and the vulva (external genitalia). Each ovary connects to a fallopian tube, which connects to the womb; this rests above the cervix and the vagina. The ovaries consist of fluid filled sacs called follicles, which contain immature eggs. Hormones are needed for the eggs to grow and mature each month from puberty to the menopause. The fallopian tubes carry the eggs towards the womb and if sperm are present, the egg is usually fertilized here.

The fertilized egg forms an embryo, the beginnings of a pregnancy. The developing embryo will travel down the fallopian tube to the womb and it is here that the embryo will implant (attaching to the lining of the womb where it has a blood supply from the mother). Once it has attached itself to he womb lining, it grows further and eventually will be come a baby. The vagina is a tube, which connects the outside to the outside genitalia and is where the penis is inserted during sexual intercourse. Sperm are released in the vagina and need to swim through the cervix and womb and down the fallopian tube to meet the egg for fertilization.

Externally the female genitalia are referred to as the vulva, which is made up of the clitoris, urethra (which leads to the bladder and allows for the passage of urine), and the labia majora and labia minora (these are the fleshy lips of the vulva). The vagina allows for the passage of the menstrual blood and also the baby during pregnancy and delivery.

Female Puberty

The physical changes that take place in a child’s body which lead to maturity into an adult is called puberty; this makes the body capable of sexual reproduction. It occurs as hormones released from a small gland in the base of the brain, called the pituitary, act on the ovaries (see the menstrual cycle). In girls, puberty starts between 8 and 13 years at an average age of 11 years. This can be a difficult stage of life for a child as there are physical changes to the body as well as emotional changes.

For a girl, the most obvious physical change will be the development of breast tissue.  She will also become more curvaceous as fat distribution changes, she will have a growth spurt, and develop hair under her arms and in the pubic area. She may notice an increase in her body odour, may have vaginal discharge and may develop acne. Periods will start around two years after the breasts start to grow.

The hormonal changes that occur during puberty can be troubling for young people. Some describe puberty as a bit of an emotional roller-coaster. Some young people find this time confusing and they feel more, sensitive, easily upset, they can lose their tempers and become emotional. Young people often experience their first sexual feelings with the onset of puberty. They have to deal with these emotional changes at a time when they are already self-conscious due to the physical changes occurring such as acne and body odour. With supportive family and friends most find puberty to be a positive step towards maturity and the independence that comes with adult life.

This is a really useful read – http://patient.info/health/surviving-adolescence.