For teenage girls, puberty is a time that is both thrilling and scary. The body is developing, menstruation begins to come, and moods may fluctuate all the time. It's possible you don't even realize you're going through puberty, especially since puberty usually starts long before you know it. For girls, puberty can be detected by looking at the signs on the body and paying attention to changes in behavior and emotions.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Looking for Signs on the Body
Step 1. Check your growth
Do you suddenly need new clothes, new shoes, or something else? As you enter puberty, you may gain weight and become taller. When you notice this general growth, you can look for other, more specific signs.
Step 2. Be aware of how you smell right now
Entering puberty, hormones begin to change and sweat glands become more active. Sweat mixes with bacteria, causing body odor. Fortunately, there are many things you can do to get rid of body odor, including:
- Shower every day. Scrub the whole body with mild soap and warm water.
- Use deodorant or antiperspirant in your armpits every day. Deodorants can mask bad odors and antiperspirants prevent excessive sweating.
- Choose underwear made of 100% cotton to ensure air circulation.
Step 3. Feel your chest to feel the breast buds
Pay attention to the area around the nipple. Press the point with your finger to feel a small, firm, slightly painful bump. If you feel a bulge the size of a coin, your breasts may have started to grow.
- Breast buds usually begin to develop at the age of 9 or 10 years.
- Don't worry about checking your breasts by hand. Exploring a developing body is perfectly normal.
- When the breast begins to enlarge, one of the buds may develop more quickly.
Step 4. Check if your pubic hair has started to grow
Look or feel around your vaginal area for hair growth. You may find the coat smooth and straight, or thick, coarse and curly. Pubic hair is a sign that puberty has or will begin.
Don't worry, it's perfectly normal to check your vagina or labia for hair
Step 5. Observe your body shape in the mirror
Apart from breast buds and pubic hair, you may notice a change in body shape. Think about whether your clothes now feel different, for example. Looking for changes in body shape is also one way of knowing puberty. Body parts that may be more rounded or slightly enlarged are:
- Hip
- Thigh
- Arm
- limbs
- Hand
- Foot
Step 6. Wait another year or two to check your armpit and leg hair
Touch the armpit area and look in the mirror for hair. Also, pay attention to your legs. The fur on the limbs may be darker, thicker, and quite visible. Check this area about a year or two after you notice pubic hair.
Armpit hair and leg hair grow in a pattern similar to pubic hair. At first it may be sparse and smooth, but over time it will become thicker, darker, and rougher
Step 7. Check if there is any discharge or mucus coming out of the vagina
Start checking your underwear a year or two after the breast buds develop. Vaginal discharge may be felt in the underwear or between the legs. You may find the fluid is runny, thick like mucus, or white in color. Vaginal discharge or discharge is completely normal and is a way to tell if you are going through puberty.
If your vaginal discharge is not white and has an unusual odor, tell your doctor or an adult you trust. It may be a sign of infection
Step 8. Wait for your first period
Monthly guests will begin to come within six months of the vaginal discharge. Check for signs of blood in the underwear or vaginal discharge. If there is, it means you have entered puberty and will have your first period. For many girls, this is the most exciting and scary part of puberty.
- If your period is irregular after the first, it's normal.
- Maybe you will be bloated during your period. Your stomach will feel fuller or swollen than usual.
- Before and during your period, you may also feel cramping, backaches, or headaches.
Step 9. Check for changes in the skin
Pay attention to whether your skin is more oily, acne prone, or irritated. As the body changes, so does the skin. Oily skin and acne growth on the face, neck, chest, and/or back also indicate that you are entering puberty.
- Wash your face with a mild soap or cleanser to remove excess oil and prevent breakouts.
- If the growth of acne starts to get worse, seek advice or a prescription from a doctor. Acne is the most common sign of puberty, but since this is usually an emotional time, it can make a teen's problems or feelings worse.
Method 2 of 2: Feeling Different and New Emotions
Step 1. Have a diary to express your emotions
Write down how you feel every day or whenever you need a release. Hormonal changes are intense during puberty and they can change your emotions. Read the contents of your diary every week and notice whether your feelings go up and down quickly. Emotional changes are a sign that you are entering puberty. Some of the emotions you may notice are:
- Feeling uncomfortable with body changes
- Be sensitive to what other people say or do
- Feeling intense emotions, such as being jealous of someone you didn't care about before.
- Decreased self confidence
- Anxious or even depressed
- More easily offended or angry for no reason
Step 2. Pay attention to how you think
When doing your homework or dealing with various situations, pay attention to whether you are thinking about or dealing with them in a different way than usual. A new mindset is also a sign of puberty. Notice the following changes in thinking:
- Understand more difficult problems or responsibilities, such as what will happen if you don't do your homework or homework.
- More able to make choices, such as when to stand up for what is right and state what is wrong.
- Know what you like and don't like.
Step 3. Realize whether you are now more distant from your parents
Maybe you have difficulty communicating with your parents. In addition, you may feel distant or ashamed of your parents. Boys are also having the same problem.
Step 4. Feel curious about your own body
The desire to see and touch the body is a normal part of growth and puberty. You may be curious about sex and sexuality. Explore your body. That's perfectly normal, common, and nothing to be ashamed of. Exploration of the body is also a sign that you have entered puberty.
- Touching one's own body is completely normal. Don't believe the myths that say that your palms will grow hairy, your eyes will be blind, you will have emotional problems, or that you will be infertile.
- Ask an adult you trust about an interest in your body. Don't be shy, they've been there before.
Step 5. Accept feelings or attraction to the other person
Romantic or sexual feelings are also a normal part of the process of growing up. Notice if you start to have feelings for other people, especially the opposite sex. Interest in other people is also a sign of puberty.
If you have questions about attraction, dating, kissing, and sex, talk to friends, family, or a medical professional
Tips
- Remember that all girls go through puberty and it's a normal process that isn't embarrassing at all. Puberty can begin between the ages of 9 and 16. So, don't worry if you hit puberty earlier or later.
- Talk to an adult you trust or your doctor if you have questions about puberty.
- See a doctor or nurse if you notice something uncomfortable or doubtful. For example, vaginal discharge that feels itchy or smells because it could be a minor infection.
- You can talk about your pain and emotions with other people. Don't be afraid to talk.
