Puberty: What Changes?

- Growth spurt. Rapid and dramatic increase in height and weight. - Maturation of the primary sex characteristics, or the reproductive system. As the ovaries mature, girls experience their first menstrual period; as the testes mature, boys experience their first ejaculation. - Development of secondary sex characteristics, the are physical characteristics that differentiate males and females such as breast development, the growth of facial hair, pubic hair, and changes in the oil and sweat producing glands (which often lead to acne). - Changes in body composition. By the end of puberty, boys´ bodies contain three times more muscle than fat, while girls´ bodies contain nearly equal amounts of muscle and fat.