Stages of Puberty

Puberty is a time where you go through a lot of physical and emotional changes as you go from girl to woman. But it’s important to know that these changes won’t happen overnight, but rather will happen in stages over a few years. Every girl’s journey with puberty is slightly different, but here is a full rundown of what to expect at the different stages of puberty. 

when does puberty start for girls? 

Girls go through puberty earlier than boys do, and while the average age for most girls to start puberty is 11, some girls start earlier or later, usually sometime between 8 and 13 years old. If you find that your friends start puberty before you, don’t stress too much. It’s not a race and everyone goes at their own pace. Sooner or later, you will catch up.  

first stage of puberty: breasts and pubic hair

The first thing you will probably notice is your boobs developing. You will start to get breast buds, which are small and tender lumps that form behind your nipples that will eventually become your breasts. They may be small and maybe even a little sore or itchy at first, but over time, they will get bigger and won’t feel as tender. When you start seeing these breast buds form, it’s a good time to start thinking about shopping for your first bra. You will also start to see darker hair growing around your vagina and sometimes even around your arms and legs. 

next stage of puberty: everything else

Usually a year or two after the first stage and for the next couple of years, you will experience the other signs of puberty. Just some of the things you will go through include: 

• You will go through a massive growth spurt
• You will gain some weight, especially around your hips and thighs
• Your breasts will get bigger
• Your vagina will get bigger
• You will have white vaginal discharge
• You will get your first period 
• You will get underarm hair
• You will get upper lip hair
• Your pubic hair will get thicker 
• You will go through mood swings
• You will sweat more
• You will get acne

when will puberty end for me? 

It totally depends on when you started. Puberty often takes about four years or so for girls, so if you started puberty at 10 years old, you would be done with puberty sooner than sometime who didn’t start puberty until the age of 12. You will know you’re done with puberty when you stop growing taller, your boobs are larger and adult-like, and your pubic hair has spread to your inner thighs. 

With all the changes going on in your body, puberty can be a confusing time. Just remember that it’s only four years, everything you’re going through is totally normal and we are here to support you. If you have any other questions about puberty, let us know by emailing us at info@apricotton.co or DM us on Instagram!

About the Author

Meet Anika, our content creator and copywriter! Even though it’s been a while since she had to deal with the awkwardness of buying her first bra, she is excited to join the Apricotton team and make bra shopping a little bit easier for tween and teen girls. You can connect with her here.