Duration of the phases
The duration of the phases is extremely variable and varies considerably from child to child. The prepubertal phase lasts about 2 years. The peak phase of puberty can last over 2 to 5 years. The late pubertal phase lasts about 2-4 years. In total, puberty lasts on average about 5-7 years.
Physical changes
During puberty the child’s body becomes a male or female body. Both girls and boys experience a significant growth spurt. Girls develop roundish features and the breasts begin to grow.
The body fat percentage increases and the pubic and axillary hairs grow. The female body also changes internally. With the first menstruation the girls become sexually mature.
The uterus adapts to the new cycle. Their male counterparts first notice an increase in testicular volume. The penis grows and the pubic, axillary and facial hair begins to grow.
The entire physique becomes more masculine. This means that the boys develop a greater proportion of muscle in their body weight and their shoulders become broader. The face also loses its typical childlike curves.
The skin changes in both girls and boys. The percentage of fat in the skin increases and the hair becomes greasy more quickly. This increased fat content in the skin also leads to acne. The vocal folds also become longer, causing the voice to break and the voice to become deeper.
Differences between girls and boys
Already the age of entry into puberty differs significantly between boys and girls. On average, boys enter puberty two to three years later than girls. Girls also suffer more from mood swings during puberty than boys.
They alternate between euphoria and sadness or irritability. Boys show more impulsive behaviour during puberty than girls. They are very willing to take risks and seek the “kick” by pursuing sometimes dangerous ventures.
Since boys enter puberty later, they also come out later. This can become a life-threatening problem especially in the post-pubertal phase when they are already allowed to drive a car. While boys tend to “let off steam” in the pubertal phase of self-discovery, girls are often more introverted.
This is noticeable in the increased rate of eating disorders among girls in puberty. Overall, however, puberty is a similarly exciting, thrilling and at the same time frightening time for both sexes.
