Puberty is the time of life when people develop physically and
sexually so that they can have children. It is the time when male and female
sex characteristics appear and when changes in the sexual organs occur.
Puberty is the entire process of changes affecting the body and its
hormones that accompany sexual maturation. In general, puberty usually starts
for girls between the ages of 9 and 11, and for most boys between the ages of
9½ and 13, although the exact age at which puberty starts varies widely among
individuals.
Last Updated:
February 1, 2010
Author:
Debby Golonka, MPH
Medical Review:
Susan C. Kim, MD - Pediatrics & Thomas Emmett Francoeur, MDCM, CSPQ, FRCPC - Pediatrics
