Ages 11 to 18
 Menarche
= First menstrual period
 Spermarche = First ejaculation
 Puberty begins between 8 & 14

2/3 of the variation is genetic
 For

Breast development – growth spurt – menarche
 For

girls
boys
Testes – initial pubic hair - spermarche
Hormones are secreted from:
 Pituitary gland

Regulates growth
 Controls adrenal and sex glands


Adrenal glands


Stress hormones epinephrine (adrenaline) and
norepinephrine
Gonads



Ovaries – female- Produce Estradiol (Estrogen) and
Ova
Testicles – male – Produce Testosterone and sperm
Each sex produces an increased small amount of the
other sex hormone
HPA = Hypothalamus-Pituitary-adrenal axis
HPG = Hypothalamus-pituitary-gonad axis
 Relationship

is Reciprocal
Hormones and trigger emotions, and emotions
can trigger hormones
 Circadian
rhythms
 Puberty alters the body rhythms
 E.g. Awake at midnight and sleeping in the
morning
 Obesity
= early onset of puberty
 Malnutrition = late onset of puberty
 Dramatic loss of weight will cause your
period to stop
 Family
conflict & stress = early onset of
puberty

Correlation is not causation
 Stress
hormones are a direct cause of early
puberty
 Genes may be a factor
 Early puberty = early sex

Increased sexual risk taking – More partners,
pregnancies, & diseases
 Early




May be teased by boys
Lower self-esteem
More depression
Poorer body image
 Early



maturing boys
More aggression
Law-breaking
Alcohol-abusing
 Early

maturing girls
maturing in both sexes
Sexual activity & pregnancy = depression and
other psychosocial problems
 Anxiety
about body image
 Girls = Diet to get thin

Boys like thin girls
 Boys

= Taller and stronger
Girls like tall strong boys
 Self-starvation
 Sees
herself as fat
when she is not
 Fear of weight gain
 Absence of
menstruation

(Both adolescents and
adults)
 BMI
= 18 or lower
 Binge
(Compulsive overeating) and purge
(Vomiting and laxatives)
 Close to normal weight
 Hormones
 Childhood eating patterns

E.g. “eat everything on your plate”
 Origins



Culture – Fast food culture
Stress – Comfort food
Puberty
 One

strategy to reduce eating problems
Family eating together during childhood
 Growth

is from the extremities to the core
Fingers - arms & legs - finally torso
 Weight
– Height – Muscle
 Lungs
triple in size
 Heart doubles in size
 Skin becomes oilier (acne)
 Pubic hair
 Primary


sex characteristics
Directly involved in reproduction
Uterus and testes grow
 Secondary


sex characteristics
Not directly involved in reproduction
Beard and breasts
 Hormones
- Thoughts and emotions
 Society (Social context) - shapes thoughts,
fantasies, shame, guilt, actual behavior
 Religion – Shapes behavior

Virginity pledge


Delays first intercourse
Increases later pregnancy due to not using protection
 Girls
– Biologically interested in long term
commitment-”Love me forever”
 Boys – Biologically interested in multiple
partners – “I want you now”
 Protection (condoms) - Increased
 Teen births – decreased
 Abortions – Decreased
 STD’s more common
 Pregnant





before age 15
High blood pressure
Spontaneous abortion
Still born
Low birth weight
Other lifelong medical, educational and social
problems





Poverty
Lack of education
No husband
Depression
Drug use
 Excitement
and emotional areas (Limbic
system & Amygdala) develop before
emotional regulation, analysis, and impulse
control (Prefrontal cortex) develops.
 When emotions are intense, the logical part
of the brain shuts down


Deaths from accidents
Fun of immediate sex VS pregnancy & STD’s
 Most
common in early puberty
 Increases almost every problem




Early pregnancy
Drug abuse
Depression
Suicide
 Tend
to devalue themselves throughout life
 Young
people are less likely to recognize
symptoms of a STI
 HPV – Human Papillomavirus


Increased risk of uterine cancer and death
Immunization before first intercourse helps


Gardasil recommended for both boys and girls – given
between 9 – 26 years old
Many parents do not want to immunize their 9 - 11
year olds (preferred ages for immunization).
 “Since my child will not have sex, she does not need
it.”
 “If I give her the immunization, it is giving
permission to have sex.”