Puberty
The following table summarises the range and the mean age of onset of puberty in boys and girls:-
On average, puberty lasts for 3-4 years.
Precocious puberty is puberty that occurs earlier than usual. It is more common in girls than in boys.
Adolescent girls reach puberty today at earlier ages than were ever recorded previously. Nutritional and other environmental influences may be responsible for this change. For example, the average age of the onset of menstrual periods in girls was 15 in 1900. By the 1990s, this average had dropped to 12 and a half years of age.
Child and adolescent psychiatry. John Wiley & Sons, 29 Nov 2005, p.292.
| Gender | Range during which puberty begins | Mean age of onset of puberty |
|---|---|---|
| Males | 9-14 years | 12 years |
| Females | 8-14 years | 11 years |
On average, puberty lasts for 3-4 years.
Precocious puberty is puberty that occurs earlier than usual. It is more common in girls than in boys.
Adolescent girls reach puberty today at earlier ages than were ever recorded previously. Nutritional and other environmental influences may be responsible for this change. For example, the average age of the onset of menstrual periods in girls was 15 in 1900. By the 1990s, this average had dropped to 12 and a half years of age.
Child and adolescent psychiatry. John Wiley & Sons, 29 Nov 2005, p.292.
