Puberty

All of these girls are 13 years old.

Every person will go through puberty. Although the same changes take place inside all women's bodies the outside appearance is not always the same. This you can see in the picture above where all three girls are the same age but are developing at different rates.

Many different things happen in a females body as she reaches puberty. Although there's no one right age for a girl to get her period, there are some clues that menstruation will start soon. Typically, a girl gets her period 18 months to 2 years after her breasts start to develop. Height is another clue. Most girls have almost reached their adult height when they get their first period. They rarely grow more than an inch or 2 after they begin menstruating.

It can be helpful to know the body parts involved in menstruation. Here's a diagram of what the female reproductive system looks like. The uterus is where a baby grows. Ovaries are the organs that hold the ova, or eggs. A girl has two fallopian tubes, which are the tubes that connect the ovaries to the uterus. And the vagina is the opening that leads to a female's reproductive organs.

Hormonal changes in the body trigger physical growth, and many changes begin to take place. As hormonal changes take place many girls feel curious about sex and things related to sex. It is important to know there are both risks and benefits to participating in sexual acts.

To find out more information how to protect yourself from the risks associated with sexual experimentation

Go to Being in Charge of Your Body

Menstrual Cycle