These
questions are frequently asked by female readers. This table
is here to provide information for girls and their parents.
A lot of people seem so overly concerned about what is “normal”
for themselves or for their child. If you think something
is wrong, consult with your health care provider.
Puberty
in girls is a process that varies from person to person. There
is a wide range of 'normal' starting times, and the onset
time varies in different ethnic groups. For example, it may
occur between the ages of 8 and 14 in Caucasian girls, and
may begin as early as 7 years of age in African American girls.
Puberty
is outwardly manifested by two main sets of changes: Rapid
increases in height and weight, referred to as the height
and weight spurts. The development of breasts,
and pubic and underarm (axillary) hair.
Health
care providers stage the physical changes of puberty on a
scale of 1 to 5 known as Tanner staging, named after James
Mourilyan Tanner, who first identified and named these stages.
The
Stages of Development of
Puberty in Girls
by
Jennifer Johnson, MD, MS
The table
below summarizes the events at each stage of development.
The average age listed here can vary widely; about 2 years
either side of these listed ages will usually be considered
normal.
|
Sexual
Maturity Rating
|
Average
Age (Years)
|
Features
|
What
Happens
|
|
1
|
8
2/3
|
Growth,
breasts and pubic hair
|
Height
spurt begins. Body fat at 15.7%. Breasts are prepubertal;
no glandular tissue. No pubic hair.
|
|
2
|
11
1/4
|
Breasts
|
The
areola (pigmented
area around the nipple) enlarges and becomes darker.
It raises to become a mound with a small amount of
breast tissue underneath. This is called a bud.
|
|
2
|
11
3/4
|
Pubic
hair and growth
|
A
few long, downy, slightly darkened hairs appear along
the labia majora.
At the end of this stage, the body fat has increased
to 18.9%.
|
|
3
|
11
2/3
|
Growth
|
Peak
height velocity (maximum
growth rate) is reached. Body fat is now 21.6%.
|
|
3
|
12
|
Breasts
|
Development
of breast tissue past the edge of the areola.
|
|
3
|
12
1/3
|
Pubic
hair
|
Moderate
amount of more curly, pigmented, and coarser hair
on the mons pubis
(the raised, fatty area above the labia
majora). Hair begins to spread more laterally. Menarche
(first menstrual period)
occurs in 20% of girls during this pubic hair stage
|
|
4
|
12
3/4
|
Pubic
hair
|
Hair
is close to adult pubic hair in curliness and coarseness.
Area of pubis covered is smaller than adults, and
there are no hairs on the middle surfaces of the thighs.
Menarche occurs in 50% of girls.
|
|
4
|
13
|
Breasts
|
Continued
development of breast tissue; in side view, areola
and nipple protrude.
|
|
4
|
13
|
Growth
|
End
of growth spurt. Body fat reaches mature proportion:
26%. After menstruation begins, girls grow at most
3 -4 inches usually less.
|
|
5
|
14
1/2
|
Pubic
hair and Body fat
|
Adult.
It is normal for some long pigmented hairs to grow
on the inner thighs. Body fat remains at 26.7%.
|
|
5
|
15
1/4
|
Breasts
|
|
