Background Information to Lesson 3: is your body changing too?

  1. Introduction

Adolescence and emotional changes have been discussed in Lesson 2.This Background Information provides information about the physical changes; information on doubts and questions young people may have during their physical maturing and suggestions on how to stay fit and healthy. This information also pays attention to physical, non-verbal expression and the importance of non-verbal communication. It ends with tips and suggestions on how to address these issues in the classroom.

Adolescents are children who are 10 to 20 years of age. They are in a period between childhood and adulthood, called adolescence. This time period is divided into three stages, including early (10 to 13 years of age), middle (14 to 17 years of age), and late (18 to 20 years of age). During this time, your child will go through many changes in his physical, psychological (mental and emotional), and social growth

Generally the starting age of puberty in girls is eight years and in case of boys this age is around nine years. In case of some children the puberty may start as late as they are thirteen years of age (includes both sexes). A child who has not entered puberty by the middle of their thirteenth year as well as the child, who has entered puberty at eight or nine, should be taken to doctor.

The growth rate during puberty is different in boys and girls, normally the girls grow an average of three inches every year for up to a period of two years. With the beginning of menstrual cycle in girls, they will grow at rate of one or two inches per year. Most of the girls gain their adult height by the time they turn up fifteen years. In terms of weight the girls will put on near about 30 pounds during their puberty period.

In case of boys the growth rate during puberty will be at an average of four inches per year. The height of boys grows continuously during puberty and they gain their adult height by the age of nineteen years. In terms of weight the boys will gain an average of thirty pounds.

2. Adolescence period in girls

Menstruation

Menarche usually occurs between the ages of 9 and 14, but some girls may start their menstruation earlier or later. Each month, one follicle containing an egg cell starts to grow in one of the two ovaries. The follicle produces the sex hormone oestrogen, which causes the uterine lining to thicken. When the follicle has matured, it will break through the surface and rupture, releasing the egg inside into the fallopian tube ('ovulation'). If girls have sexual intercourse around that time, sperm present in the fallopian tube can fertilise the egg, which will attach itself to the uterine lining to develop into a baby (see Background Information to Lesson 9).

If the egg is not fertilised, the uterine wall will stop thickening. Blood vessels in the uterine wall will be cut off, and the uterine lining will shed. A small amount of blood, uterine lining tissue and mucus will flow out of the uterus and through the vagina out of the body. This is called menstruation or the menstrual period.

A menstrual period takes three to seven days. Within that period, the amount of flow may vary from one tablespoon of blood to half a cup. After the menarche, girls will have their period every month. The menstrual cycle (the period-ovulation-period cycle) takes about 28 days. Especially at the beginning, the cycle can be irregular and can take between three to six weeks. As young women grow older, their cycle should become more regular.

During menstruation girls can use clean rags, sanitary towels or tampons to absorb menstrual fluid. One method is not better than another if it is replaced in time; each woman should decide which method is most comfortable for her. A tampon will not cause girls to lose their virginity. See for more information about virginity the Background Information to Lesson 8 about sexuality and love.

Most girls and women experience cramps or pains in the lower belly or back before or during their menstrual periods at some time in their lives. This can occur when the period starts or years after the first period. Periods may also come with emotional problems, such as depression, irritability and mood swings. Some girls may suffer headaches, tiredness, swollen and sensitive breasts and sleeplessness before or during their monthly period.

Boys and men (also teachers) can support women in their menstrual period by being empathic and taking the physical and emotional distress into account.

Sex education is as important as normal education. As the body of girls goes through many physical changes during puberty, they should be provided with knowledge about their body, reproductive system and also about the menstrual cycle. Girls should be educated about the proper terms for their genital area. The girls should be molded in such a way that they do not feel ashamed of the changes their body is going through. The very first symptom of puberty in girls is the enlargement in the size of their nipples and appearance of little public hair. Gradually the girls will go through continuous growth in the breasts, public hair, hair in the armpits, changes in skin and starting of menstruation cycle.

3. Adolescence period in boys

In case of the same rules holds good as in the case of a girl. Boys should be taught about their body as well as about their reproductive system. Whenever you communicate to a boy try to use the proper terms for their body parts and other private parts of the body. The beginning of puberty in boys is marked by the increase in size of their testicles. The other sign of puberty is the body odor coming out of his armpits. As the boy progresses, he may notice some public hair and also he may experience ejaculation during sleep. The boys may go through changes in their voice; the voice may sound pitchy or scratchy. The other significant symptom of puberty is enlargement in size and thickness of pennies. Hair growth in groin area, armpits and on the chin & upper lip will take place during puberty. In the last stage of puberty chest hair will also appear.

Boys as well as girls will go through many hormone changes during puberty. While interacting with them be open, honest and casual. Children should be treated in a friendly way. They should feel free to speak to you at any time and on any subject.

If you're entering adolescence, it means you're on the road to adulthood. Adolescence is turbulent — the physical and mental changes can be overwhelming for you, and it isn't an easy time for your family, either. Understanding adolescence and knowing what happens inside your changing body can sometimes make this time a little easier to navigate.[i]

Although the added inches that seem to come out of nowhere are what everybody notices (usually to your embarrassment), the changes taking place inside of you are the most significant ones. Many of these changes come because your hormones, which have been dormant until now, are starting to kick in, bringing with them physical and psychological growth.

4. Adolescence and hormones

At some point during the second decade of your life, your brain begins to stimulate the production of hormones that cause physical changes to take place. Basically, the brain is using a series of chemical reactions to signal to your body that it’s time to evolve into adulthood. In medical terminology, this is what happens:

  • The pituitary gland releases higher levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH).
  • Together, FSH and LH activate the sex organs so that eggs (ova) develop in the female ovaries, and sperm develop in the male testes.
  • The sex organs then produce their own hormones. Estrogen and progesterone are the two most important female hormones. Testosterone is the principal male hormone.

5. Adolescence and physical changes

During adolescence, boys and girls experience physical changes that mar the passage into adulthood:

  • For both sexes height and weight increase, underarm and pubic hair begins to grow, leg and arm hair becomes thicker and more apparent, perspiration increases, and levels of oil in the skin become high (that’s why teenagers suffer from acne).
  • In girls, breasts become larger and more pronounced, nipples stand out more clearly, and the genitals grow and get a little darker and fleshier. On the inside, the uterus and ovaries also grow. At some point during the process, menarche (a girl’s first menstrual period) begins. It may take up to one and a half years from the first period, however, before her menstrualcycle becomes regular.
  • In boys, the testicles and penis become larger. At some point, the boy gains the capacity to ejaculate sperm. He also begins to have spontaneous erections. Most boys also experience nocturnal emissions (also called “wet dreams”), which are spontaneous ejaculations of semen that occur during sleep.

It can be hard to be the first or the last one in your group to go through these changes. While most young people experience adolescence between the ages of 11 and 16, you’ll find some experiencing changes as early as age 9 or 10, and others lagging behind until maybe 16 or 17. If you’re one of these outliers, remember that you’re the only one who can choose to let this bother you. It all will even out eventually.

6. What mental changes occur during adolescence?

As a child matures, he learns to think more deeply:

  • Change in self-image: Young adolescents often focus on their own self-image. Through different experiences, your child may find new beliefs and question old ones. He begins to form personality traits that define who he is. He defines his own ideals, values, and principles. By late adolescence, he is happier with who he is, and his place in society.
  • Intellectual development and skills: Adolescents learn to think in new ways to understand complex ideas. They learn through selective and divided attention, and better memory. Problem solving skills also improve. They are able to think in a logical way, use sound judgment, and develop abstract thinking. Abstract thinking is the ability to understand and make sense out of symbols or images.
  • Setting goals and ambitions: As an adolescent learns who he is, he begins to plan for the future. Based on his beliefs and values, he decides who he wants to be and what he wants to do in life. He sets realistic goals and has learned the difference between goals, fantasy, and reality. By late adolescence, he begins to work hard to reach his goals.

7. Adolescence and psychology

Adolescence also comes with psychological changes. You’ll break away from your parents a little bit more every day, changing schools, learning to drive, developing new friends, staying up later. . . . Each day brings new challenges, and challenges make you feel more vibrant and alive.

Many people may think that adolescence goes hand in hand with the image of a sullen teenager. And it is true that the problems of adolescence—worrying about how many zits are on your face, when your period will visit you next, what to do with the bed sheets from the wet dream you had last night, or how to get the boy or girl across the classroom to notice you—can be quite traumatic. But the reputation for moodiness doesn’t have to be the reality. In fact, most people enjoy their teenage years more than any other. Although you may have worries, you also have a lot of thrills. Firsts—be they your first car, first date, first kiss, first act of sexual intercourse, or first orgasm—are very exciting

8. What social changes occur during adolescence?

  • Family: An adolescent may begin to spend less time with parents and more with friends. He often longs for freedom and starts to detach himself from his family. He begins to depend on himself more and learn responsibility.
  • Friends: During early adolescence, having close relationships and being accepted into a peer group is very important. A child’s actions can be greatly changed by peers or peer pressure. More time spent with friends gives a child more chances to try new things. He may try smoking, drinking alcohol, or sexual activity. By middle adolescence, boys and girls start to become friends, which often lead to dating.
  • Community: As a child grows older, his relationships with others also grow. By late adolescence, he learns to think about the needs of others instead of thinking only of himself.

9.What problems may occur during adolescence?

  • Early or delayed puberty: The age a child enters puberty depends on many things. Some children develop sexually sooner or later than others. Girls go through puberty earlier than boys. Precocious (early) puberty is when a girl younger than 8 years of age starts to develop sexually. In boys, early puberty may start younger than nine years of age. Delayed puberty is when a girl over 13 years of age or a boy over 14 or 15 years of age has not shown signs of puberty. Early or delayed puberty may be caused by certain medical conditions.
  • Low self-esteem: Your child may not feel good about himself, especially during early adolescence. Most children focus on their bodies as changes occur, and this may cause poor body image. Your child may worry about how he is growing, and things like acne may be a concern. It is normal for your child to not be happy with how he looks, and to compare himself with his peers.
  • Mood problems or depression: Mood problems such as depression or anxiety may affect adolescents. These often occur because of changes during puberty. Deep depression is serious and may lead to thoughts or attempts of suicide.
  • Need for independence: Adolescents seek freedom. They tend to move away from their parents emotionally, and feel comfortable with their peers. This may lead to conflict and problems between you and your child. He may begin to reject your rules and values, and struggle to learn who he is. These problems tend to resolve by late adolescence. As a child grows, he becomes more stable emotionally, learns to rely on himself, and shows more concern for others.
  • Poor nutrition or low physical activity: Unhealthy eating habits and lack of physical activity can lead to children being underweight, overweight, or at risk of growing overweight. These conditions may lead to medical problems, such as diabetes (high blood sugar), hypertension (high blood pressure), and hyperlipidemia (high blood cholesterol).
  • Risky behaviors: As your child starts making his own choices, peer pressure may cause poor judgment. He may choose to take unsafe risks. Risky behaviors include trying drugs, alcohol, cigars or tobacco. They also include getting into physical fights or having risky sex. They may decide not to wear seatbelts or helmets, drive while drunk, or carry a weapon. A child is more likely to do these things if he has problems with self-control, family, or the community. Younger adolescents that cannot control their temper often act without thinking about the results of their actions. Children often practice the same bad habits of their parents, such as using drugs or drinking too much alcohol. The school, work, peers, and media (radio and TV) may also direct a child's actions.

10.How can we help keep adolescent safe?

  • Have your adolescent seen by caregivers: Children who are sexually active, smoke tobacco, use street drugs, or binge drink may benefit from talk therapy, or counseling. Binge drinking is having more than five drinks during one time period.
  • Know your child: Get involved in your child’s activities. Spend time with him, and be there when he needs you. Stay in contact with your child’s teachers to find and deal with problems early. Get to know his friends. If he has a job, make sure that it does not get in the way of school.
  • Promote good nutrition and physical activity: Make sure your child eats a balanced diet and limits the amount of foods high in fat and sugar. Eating fruits and vegetables are good for him. Encourage him to exercise regularly, at least 30 minutes every day. Ask caregivers if your child needs to use a vitamin and mineral supplement.
  • Set clear rules that do not change: Be a good role model for your child. Limit television and movies. Even if your child is older, limit the amount of violence, sex, and drugs and alcohol use that he sees. Talk about the dangers of sex, alcohol, and drug use. TV and movies make these things seem OK and often do not show the results of making poor choices.
  • Talk to your child: Talk to your adolescent about the risks of being sexually active. Teach him about birth control and protection against sexually transmitted diseases.
  • Teach road safety: Explain to your child why he must wear helmets or seat belts. Help him understand the risk of riding with a driver who has used drugs or drank alcohol.
  • Understand your child’s actions and signs: Learn the signs of drug use, early sexual activity, depression, and eating problems, such as anorexia nervosa (starving to stay thin). Knowing the early signs of problems can give you a chance to get your child help before problems get more serious.

11.What can schools do?