Puberty is a natural part of development and is when a child goes through physical, hormonal, emotional and mental changes to reach sexual maturity. These changes begin and end at different ages for each child, depending on their gender, race, and ethnicity, as well as environmental factors.
Today, we will discuss the five different Tanner stages of puberty for both boys and girls.
For clarity, a boy refers to a child with testicles and a girl refers to a child with ovaries.
What is Adolescence?
Puberty is your body’s natural way physically become an adult. During this time, your major organs and body systems mature and your body becomes capable of sexual reproduction.
It is a biological process driven by hormonal changes that affect physical growth, emotional development and sexual maturity.
But despite the fact that puberty makes you an adult physically, your brain continues to grow and mature into your mid to late 20s.
In short, what happens during puberty?
During adolescence, the child the body changes into an adult body. Their brain activates the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Gonadal (HPG) axis, which then tells the body to they produce sex hormonessuch as testosterone in boys and estrogen in girls.
After that, a child will go through one developmentboth in length and body size, their reproductive systems will mature (girls will have their periodand sperm production begins in boys), secondary sex characteristics (such as breasts, a deeper voice, and body hair) develop, and there may be emotional and mood changes;.
More specifically, when it comes to puberty, there is something called the five Tanner stages. These are different for both girls and boys.
What are the five Tanner stages in boys?
First, when does puberty usually start in boys? Around ages 9-14, with full growth usually completed by 16-18. But this may vary.
Stage 1: Prepubescent
In the first stage, there are still no visible signs of puberty and the testicles, penis and body hair are still childlike.
Stage 2: Early Puberty
In the second stage, the testicles and scrotum begin to enlarge, the skin of the scrotum will begin to thin and redden, and sparse, fine pubic hair will begin to grow at the base of the penis.
Stage 3: Middle Adolescence
In the third stage, the penis begins to lengthen, the testicles continue to grow, the pubic hair becomes darker, coarser and curlier, there may be early changes in the voice, and a growth spurt often begins.
Stage 4: Late Adolescence
In the fourth stage, the penis grows in both length and thickness, the scrotum and testicles are larger and darker, adult-type pubic hair is present, there is noticeable deepening of the voice, and acne and body odor may begin to appear.
Stage 5: Full maturity
In the fifth stage, the genitals reach adult size and shape, pubic hair spreads to the inner thighs, facial and chest hair may develop, the voice deepens completely, and growth slows and eventually stops.
What are the five Tanner stages in girls?
When does puberty usually start in girls? Around ages 8-13, with full growth usually completed by 15-17. But this may vary.
Stage 1: Prepubescent
In the first stage, there is still no breast development or pubic hair and the ovaries and reproductive system are still immature.
Stage 2: Early Puberty
In the second stage, breast buds (small, tender lumps under the nipples) appear, the areola (the area around the nipple) begins to enlarge and thin, soft pubic hair begins to grow.
Stage 3: Middle Adolescence
In the third stage, breasts grow and begin to take shape, pubic hair becomes darker, coarser and curlier, growth spurts often begin, and vaginal discharge may begin.
Stage 4: Late Adolescence
In the fourth stage, the breasts are more developed, with the nipple and a halo that forms a raised mound, pubic hair has an adult-like texture, and menstruation usually begins.
Stage 5: Full maturity
In the fifth stage, breasts reach adult size and shape, pubic hair spreads to the inner thighs, and the menstrual cycle becomes more regular over time.
How long does puberty last?
Puberty usually takes about 3 to 5 years from the first physical signs to full adult development, but this can vary from person to person. In fact, starting earlier or later can still be perfectly normal.
However, it is important to remember: growth and emotional development can continue after the physical changes are over.
What affects the timing of puberty?
There are many things that can affect the timing of puberty. Things like one’s biology, environment and lifestyle it plays a big role, and for that reason, there is not a single factor that controls it.
Here are the main things that affect when puberty starts and how fast it progresses:
Genetics
Your genes really play the biggest role. If one’s parents (especially the mother) started puberty early or late, the chances are high that their child will follow the same pattern. Specific genes influence when the brain signals the body to start puberty.
Nutrition & Weight
With the right and sufficient nutritionthe body can reach the energy level needed to start puberty. However, malnutrition or an eating disorder can delay puberty, as very low calorie intake can slow growth. If there are higher levels of fat in girls, it can lead to an early onset of puberty.
hormones
Puberty will begin when the brain, more specifically the hypothalamus and pituitary gland, activates the reproductive system. If a child has some conditions that affect the production of hormones, such as a thyroid disorder or pituitary problems, this can accelerate or delay puberty.
Stress & Emotional Environment
For some, early puberty is associated with those experiencing early life stress, early life adversity.
Natural Environment
Those exposed to endocrine-disrupting chemicals found in certain plastics or pesticides may start puberty earlier.
Physical Activity
Some forms of high-intensity exercise can delay puberty, especially in girls. Some activities include sports that emphasize low body weight, such as gymnastics, ballet, or long-distance running.
What is considered early or late puberty?
- Early puberty in girls is before age 8 in girls and age 9 in boys.
- Late puberty in boys is if there are no signs at all age 13 for girls and up to age 14 for boys.
If you have a child who is experiencing unusually early or late puberty, consulting a pediatrician or pediatric endocrinologist is a great idea. A endocrinologist is a specialist who will be able to assess hormone levels, growth patterns and more.
