Locations:
Puberty is the time in your child’s life when they physically transition from a child to an adult. Their body produces certain hormones that trigger the physical changes of puberty. There are typically five stages of puberty, and each child experiences them at a different rate.
Puberty is the natural part of development when your child’s body goes through physical and hormonal changes to reach sexual maturity.
The stages of puberty follow a definite path with a progression of physical changes. It also involves emotional and mental changes. The physical and emotional changes of puberty begin and end at different ages for each child based on their sex, race and ethnicity, as well as environmental factors.
In this article, “boy” refers to children with testicles (testes), which naturally produce testosterone. “Girl” refers to children with ovaries, which naturally produce estrogen. Children who are taking puberty blockers or feminizing or masculinizing hormone therapy may experience different bodily changes during puberty.
Advertisement
Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy
Puberty is your body’s natural way of physically becoming an adult. It’s the period of time when your major organs and body systems mature, and your body becomes capable of sexual reproduction. You experience mental and emotional development as well during puberty.
Although puberty makes you physically an adult, your brain continues to develop and mature into your mid-to-late 20s.
Puberty starts when a part of your child’s brain called the hypothalamus begins producing a hormone called gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH).
Their hypothalamus sends GnRH to another part of their brain called the pituitary gland. GnRH stimulates your child’s pituitary gland to release two more hormones — luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH).
These hormones travel to the sex organs (gonads) — the ovaries or testes. This triggers your child’s gonads to begin releasing sex hormones — either estrogen or testosterone. These messenger hormones cause the telltale signs of puberty to begin.
Puberty for girls (children with ovaries) usually starts between the ages of 8 and 13. This is typically two years before boys. Black and Hispanic girls tend to start puberty earlier than white girls (age 7 1/2 instead of 8).
Puberty for boys (children with testes) begins sometime between the ages of 9 and 14. Boys hit puberty about two years later than girls. However, Black and Hispanic boys tend to enter puberty a bit earlier than white boys.
Advertisement
Tanner Staging, also known as Sexual Maturity Rating (SMR), is a classification system that healthcare providers use to document and track the development of secondary sex characteristics of children during puberty. It’s a tool that outlines the stages of puberty for your child and when they’re likely to occur.
It’s important to note that there’s a wide range of “normal” in the timing and stages of puberty. Every child develops at their own rate. Tanner Staging functions as a general guide, not a strict rule.
There are separate Tanner stages for changes in breasts and pubic hair. Other physical changes happen as well. The Tanner stages can serve as an excellent guide to the changes you can expect to see in your daughter. There are five stages of puberty for girls.
Stage 1 is prepubertal. In this stage, girls haven’t experienced any visible changes. But their adrenal glands are maturing and their ovaries are growing.
In Stage 2, physical changes begin. Between the ages of 8 and 13, girls typically experience:
In Stage 3, physical changes speed up. Between the ages of 9 and 14:
In Stage 4, puberty hits full stride. Between the ages of 10 and 15:
Periods (menstruation) begin in Stage 4, typically around age 12 (usually around the same age their biological mother’s and sisters’ periods began). Some girls start earlier or later than this age. Periods usually start around two years after breasts start to bud or pubic hair starts to grow. If periods haven’t started three years after puberty began, make an appointment with your child’s healthcare provider.
Stage 5 is the final phase. Development typically ends in this stage. Girls reach physical adulthood. Pubic hair may extend out to their thighs, and some girls may have a line of hair up to their belly button. Most girls reach their peak height by age 16, but some may continue growing through age 20. Some girls never have pubic hair reach Tanner Stage 5; that may be their “normal.”
There are separate Tanner stages for changes in genitalia and pubic hair. Other physical changes happen, too. For parents, the Tanner stages can serve as an excellent guide to the changes you can expect to see in your son. There are five stages of puberty for boys.
Stage 1 is prepubertal. In this stage, boys haven’t experienced any visible changes, but their adrenal glands are maturing.
In Stage 2, physical changes begin. Between the ages of 9 and 14, boys typically begin to experience:
In Stage 3, physical changes speed up. Between the ages of 10 and 16 years, boys experience:
Some breast development, or gynecomastia, occurs in about 50% of all boys in Stage 3. But it typically resolves by the end of puberty. It’s most common between the ages of 11 and 15 years. If this becomes an issue physically or socially, you should talk with your child’s healthcare provider.
In Stage 4, puberty hits full stride. Between the ages of 11 and 16 years, boys experience:
Stage 5 is the final phase. Puberty ends in this stage. Boys finish their growth and physical development.
Many may not develop facial hair until this step in the process. Pubic hair may extend out to their thighs, and some boys may have a line of hair up to their belly button. Most boys finish growing by age 17, but some may continue growing through their early 20s.
When your child enters puberty, you may or may not see some emotional upheaval. Surges in sex hormones, coupled with social pressures, may cause moody behavior, emotional outbursts and family discord.
Your child is going through drastic changes in their identity and social life. They may develop confidence issues or feel many different emotions related to their sexuality, like desire, confusion and fear.
If serious emotional or behavioral problems arise — signs of anxiety, depression, extreme mood swings or aggression — it’s important for your child to see their healthcare provider. Your child may benefit from psychotherapy (talk therapy) and/or medication.
Gender dysphoria can also arise during puberty. Be sure to support your child and help them get the professional care they need.
Advertisement
For girls, puberty typically ends around age 15 to 17 years. For boys, it tends to end around age 16 to 17 years. Again, every child is different, so these ages can vary.
Puberty typically lasts two to five years. But every child is different. It can be difficult to not know how long puberty will take. But know that your child’s body is going through a natural phase of life.
Hormones involved in puberty include:
Your child’s adrenal glands also produce more hormones called androgens. These hormones contribute to the formation of secondary sex characteristics — mainly the development of pubic and underarm hair (adrenarche). Although adrenarche happens alongside increases in sex hormones during puberty, adrenal glands may also produce androgens that impact pubic hair. One in four girls have adrenarche before breast development (thelarche).
The two main issues related to puberty are precocious (early) puberty and delayed puberty. They can develop due to:
Some cases have no known cause.
Healthcare providers consider precocious puberty to be the onset of Tanner Stage 2 secondary sexual characteristics before age 8 in girls or age 9 in boys if the next stages of puberty happen soon after.
Healthcare providers consider delayed puberty to be when:
Providers may diagnose primary amenorrhea (lack of a menstrual period) if a girl hasn’t started menstruation within three years of Tanner Stage 2 or by age 15.
You should see your child’s healthcare provider if your child experiences any of the following:
Additionally, contact your child’s provider if:
Puberty is a time of massive change for your child — and you. You can help your child by:
Puberty can be a very exciting but challenging time in your child’s life — and your family’s. Along with physical changes, your child may experience many emotional changes. Know that your child’s healthcare provider will be there to support you and them with any questions or concerns. They can evaluate your child and determine if they’re developing as expected.
Last reviewed on 08/26/2024.
Learn more about our editorial process.
Advertisement
Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy
