In the blink of an eye our children turn into adolescents. It is important that we prepare for the changes and questions that adolescence brings. It is a complicated stage but if we inform ourselves well, it will be easier for us to face it.
Puberty usually begins earlier than parents think, especially in girls . You can help your youngster get through this time by learning about these changes and initiating conversations about them earlier.
Here is an overview of the major physical changes girls will go through during puberty:
Girls usually enter puberty between 8 and 13 years of age. The first sign of puberty in most girls is the development of breast buds, lumps the size of a nickel under the nipple. It is not uncommon for breast growth to start first on one side and then the other. It is also common for the breast buttons to be a little tender or sore. Uneven breast growth and pain are absolutely normal and usually get better with time.
Thicker hair will begin to grow in the genital area, in the armpits, and on the legs. In some girls (about 15%), pubic hair can be the first sign of puberty, appearing before the breast buds begin to form.
Some girls have a mild to moderate clear or white vaginal discharge that begins 6 to 12 months before their first menstrual period. This is a normal response to increased levels of estrogen, a hormone in the body.
While the onset may vary, most girls have their first menstrual period 2 to 3 years after the development of breast buds. In the United States, the average age of the first menstrual period for girls is around 12 years old. It is important to emphasize that menstrual periods are a normal part of growth. Girls should know that you can talk about your menstrual period and ask questions about it.
Some young women may feel anxious about their first menstrual period, as it may happen unexpectedly. To help alleviate this concern, you can give your daughter the necessary items (pads, tampons, and panty liners) to keep in her locker or backpack and review the resources available at school, including the school nurse.
While some girls will have bright red blood on their first menstrual period, others may have only a scant reddish-brown discharge; both are normal. Some women have menstrual periods once a month, but they may be irregular for the first few years as the body adapts to rapid physiological changes. Also, normal menstrual cycles can be as short as 21 days or as long as up to 35 days, so even people with regular cycles may not get a period every month.
También es común sentir dolores (calambres) o dolores abdominales durante los períodos menstruales. Para la mayoría de las mujeres, el ibuprofeno o el naproxeno, según sean necesarios, son los mejores medicamentos para aliviar los calambres menstruales. Si los dolores menstruales fueran fuertes o hicieran que su hija falte a la escuela, hable con el pediatra sobre otras opciones.
La mayoría de las niñas tienen su crecimiento rápido (estirón) a una edad menor que los varones. El ritmo de crecimiento más rápido en las niñas suele ocurrir entre el tiempo en que empiezan a desarrollarse los botones mamarios y unos 6 meses antes de su primer período menstrual. Una vez que una niña tiene su primer período menstrual, su crecimiento ya ha empezado a ser más lento. La mayoría de las niñas crecerá de 1 a 2 pulgadas (2,5 a 5 cm) más después de su primer período menstrual, pero es poco común que crezcan más que eso.
Se ensancharán las caderas de la niña y, probablemente, la cintura se afine.
Muchos jóvenes sufren de acné durante la pubertad. Esto puede estar relacionado con los cambios en los niveles hormonales durante esta época. También son cambios normales la transpiración en las axilas y el aumento de olor corporal; es por esto que la mayoría de las niñas comienzan a usar desodorantes o antisudoral al inicio de la pubertad. Como la piel produce más aceite y sudor, probablemente las niñas de esta edad quieran ducharse o lavarse el pelo más seguido.
A veces, las niñas comienzan la pubertad o muy pronto o muy tarde. Comuníquese con el pediatra si empieza a observar cambios puberales antes de que su hija tenga 8 años. Del mismo modo, comuníquese con el pediatra si no hubiera ningún cambio puberal en su hija a los 13 años.
By: Brittany Allen, MD, FAAP and Katy Miller, MD, FAAP
Posted by: Healthy Children www.healthychildren.org
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