Here's an overview of the major physical changes girls can expect as they go through puberty:. Girls usually begin puberty between the ages of 8 and 13 years old. The earliest sign of puberty in most girls is the development of breast "buds," nickel-sized bumps under the nipple. It is not unusual for breast growth to start on one side before the other. It's also common for breast buds to be somewhat tender or sore. Uneven breast growth and soreness are both totally normal and usually improve with time. Coarser hair will begin to grow in the genital area, under the arms, and on the legs. Around the time they reach middle school, many girls begin to show interest in shaving their legs and armpits.

Common conditions that can be treated


What is normal breast development?
Learn more. Breast development happens in certain stages during a woman's life: first before birth, again at puberty, and later during the childbearing years. Changes also happen to the breasts during the menstrual cycle and when a woman reaches menopause. This starts with a thickening in the chest area called the mammary ridge or milk line. By the time a baby girl is born, nipples and the beginnings of the milk-duct system have formed. The first thing to develop are lobes, or small subdivisions of breast tissue. Mammary glands develop next and consist of 15 to 24 lobes. Mammary glands are influenced by hormones activated in puberty.
Normal and nothing to worry about
Girls tend to have their final growth spurt between the ages of 10 and Most will have reached their adult height by the time they are 15 years old. Everyone starts puberty at a different time, and genetics largely determines growth patterns. Girls tend to experience a growth spurt that takes them to their adult height in their teens, as they go through puberty. Puberty is the transition from childhood to adulthood; it describes a series of changes people go through as their bodies start to increase the production of certain hormones. In girls, puberty tends to start between the ages of 10 and The average age for girls to start puberty is about 11 , but it is different for everyone. For some puberty can start earlier or later, and this is completely normal.
Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology. Tween and Teen Development. Breast development is caused by hormones released by the ovaries at puberty. These hormones cause fat to accumulate, causing your breasts to enlarge. The first sign of breast development is slight swelling under the nipple, a stage of development called breast buds. As your breasts first start to grow, they can be very tender and sore. They may also itch as your skin gets stretched.