Reaching the Age of Adolescence

Humans begin to reproduce after a certain period of time. Several changes occur in the human body before a person can.  

Adolescence and Puberty

Adolescence is the stage of life when the person’s body undergoes certain changes leading to a phase of reproductive maturity. Various changes take place in the human body during adolescence. These changes are marked as the onset of puberty. When the person reaches adolescence where the person attains reproductive maturity then the stage of puberty ends.

•       Adolescence starts at the age of 11 and lasts up to 18 or 19 years of age
•       Adolescents of this group are called tweens or teenagers
•       Adolescence may begin a year or two earlier in girls as compared to boys

 Changes at Puberty

An increase in height, growth of reproductive organs and hairs, change in voice and body shape, etc. are changes observed with the onset of puberty.

 Increase in Height: Sudden increase in height, long bones of arms and legs are noticeable changes during puberty.

•       Girls grow faster than boys initially but after 18 years of age, both reach their maximum height
•       The growth rate of height varies from individual to individual
•       The rate of growth of all body parts is not the same
•       The height of an individual is more or less like that of some family member

Change in Body Shape: In boys, shoulders broaden while in girls, the waist becomes wider. In boys, muscular growth is more as compared to girls.

Voice Change: Boys have larger voice boxes or the larynx. In boys, the protruding part of the throat is called Adam’s apple.

In girls, the larynx is small in size, a high-pitched voice is seen in girls, whereas a deep voice changes the character of boys.

Increased Activity of Sweat and Sebaceous Glands: Secretion of sweat glands and sebaceous glands increases at the time of puberty. Acne and pimples on the face occur at this time.

Development of Sex Organs

Male sex organs like the testes and penis develop completely. The testes begin to produce sperms. In girls, ovaries mature and begin to produce eggs.

Reaching Mental, Intellectual, and Emotional Maturity: Adolescence is also marked by a person’s way of thinking. It is a phrase that becomes more independent and self-conscious than before. Intellectual development occurs and spends time thinking. Sometimes, an adolescent may feel insecure while trying to adjust to the changes in the body and mind.

Secondary Sexual Characters:

Testes and Ovaries are the reproductive organs. They produce gametes, i.e., sperms and ova. Breasts begin to develop at puberty in girls whereas boys begin to grow facial hair,i.e, moustaches, and beards. This physical appearance helps to distinguish the male from the female and are called secondary sexual characters. Growth of hairs on chests occurs in boys. Growth of hairs in arms and the pubic regions are other secondary sexual characters.

Adolescent Pregnancy

The pregnancy of a female who is under the age of 20 is called adolescent pregnancy. In India, the legal age for marriage is 18 years for girls and 21 years for boys. This is because:

•       Teenage mothers are not prepared mentally as well as physically for motherhood
•       Early marriage leads to health problems in the mother and the child. And motherhood causes health problems for the mother and the child
•       It hinders employment opportunities for young women and causes mental agony

Reproductive Phase of Life in Humans:

A person can reproduce when their testes and ovaries begin to produce gametes. Gametes remain mature and productive longer in males as compared to females.

•       In females, the reproductive phase starts at 10-12 years of age and lasts approximately 45 to 50 years of age
•       With the onset of puberty, the ova get mature. One ovum matures and is released by one of the ovaries in about 28 to 30 days
•       At this time, the wall of the uterus thickens to receive the egg, in case if it gets fertilised then this results in pregnancy
•       If fertilisation does not occur, then the thick lining of the uterus along with its blood vessels are shed off which causes bleeding in women and is called menstruation
•       Menstruation occurs in a month with a gap of 28 to 30 days
•       Menarche is the first menstrual flow that begins at puberty
•     The menstrual cycle stops at 45 to 50 years of age. Menopause is the stopping of menstruation

Sex of the New-born

The sex of the baby is determined inside the fertilized egg or zygote. This instruction is coded in the thread-like structures, called chromosomes.

•       Chromosomes are present inside the nucleus
•       23 pairs of chromosomes are present in the nuclei of the cells of human beings
•       Two chromosomes are the sex chromosomes. X and Y
•       A female has two X chromosomes, while a male has one X and one Y chromosome
•       The gametes have one set of chromosomes
•       The unfertilised egg has one X chromosome. But sperms are of two kinds i.e. one kind has an X chromosome, and the other has a Y chromosome
•       When a sperm containing an X chromosome fertilises the egg, the zygote would have two X chromosomes and develop into a female child
•       If the sperm contributes a Y chromosome to the egg (ovum) at fertilisation, the zygote will develop into a male child
•       Thus, the Sex chromosomes of the father determine the sex of a child

Reproductive Health

An individual’s physical and mental well-being is considered as an individual’s health. Every human being needs to have a balanced diet to maintain a healthy body. Besides, this person must maintain hygiene and have adequate physical exercise.

•       AIDS is caused by a virus called HIV. This virus can be transmitted:

⮚  From an infected person by sharing the used syringes

⮚  To an infant from the infected mother through her milk

⮚  Can be sexually transmitted

Conclusion

Adolescence is a period in life when the body undergoes certain changes that lead to reproductive maturity. Adolescence is defined by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as the period between the ages of eleven and eighteen or nineteen. As a result, adolescence takes place between childhood and adulthood. Several changes occur in the human body during adolescence. These changes signal the start of puberty. Puberty is the stage at which a person’s reproductive organs become functionally active. When an adolescent reaches reproductive maturity, puberty comes to an end.