Puberty: The Time of Change

Thursday, October 2, 2008 20:58
Posted in category Woman Health

During puberty a girl’s genitals can undergo a major transformation. Before puberty the skin of the vulva is thin, and is easily injured and irritated. Even before noticeable breast development the tissues of the vulva start responding to increased hormonal levels by becoming thicker and larger. During puberty a girl’s inner and outer labia, hood, clitoris, and hymen often increase markedly in size. Not only may the size of a girl’s genitals change, but also their shape, color, and texture. Since pubic hair also starts growing at this time girls are less likely to be aware of these changes unless they go looking with a mirror or notice while exploring with their fingers. Even if a girl bathes with other girls she is not likely to be aware that they too have experienced the same changes. Girls and women after all are not usually permitted to play genital show and tell; mutual exploration is not unusual among young girls. (Girls and women usually glance at the genitals of other girls and women when they have the opportunity, because of natural curiosity.) Following puberty, a girl’s genitals may look nothing like they did during childhood.

If teenagers and women examine their genitals they may become concerned about these changes, feeling strange and perverse. They may feel they have deformed their genitals while masturbating, and as a result everyone who sees their genitals will know they masturbate. They may feel they are being punished for having sexual thoughts. It is for these reasons that girls and young teenagers should be made aware of these changes. They should know these changes are normal and necessary, to help improve their self-image. You do not want them to feel a need to hide their genitals.