The typical age for puberty onset in girls is around 11. The first sign of puberty in girls is breast enlargement, which is called thelarche. Pubic and underarm hair grows, and body hair may darken. The height spurt in girls starts almost at a time when there is growth of the breast, and the velocity comes down as they get their menstruation. Most girls attain their adult height by the time they reach the age of 15 years.
In boys, puberty usually starts between the ages of 10 and 14, with the average age being 12. The first sign of puberty in boys is an enlargement of the testes, which often goes unnoticed. They then develop pubic hair and growth of the penis. The growth spurt happens in mid-puberty, and they soon have a deepening of voice. The axillary hair and facial hair appear around this time. Most boys reach their final height around 16-18 years.
Dr Mathew John MD, DM