Know that you are going through a growth spurt.

You haven't grown that much since you were a baby. It can grow 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 cm) in a year. When she has finished going through puberty, she will be almost as tall as she will be as an adult. The feet may be the first to grow. They look really big at first, but you will grow proportionately with them.

Weight gain is expected. This is normal and necessary for healthy menstrual cycles. You will notice that you develop more curves, with larger hips and breasts than when you were a child.

Your body produces hormones to trigger the onset of puberty. Here are some of the changes you will start to see:

• You will sweat more. You may notice that your armpits smell now. Take a shower every day and use deodorant.
• Your breasts will begin to grow. They start with small breast buds below the nipples. Over time, your breasts will grow larger and you may want to start wearing a bra. Ask your mom or a trusted adult to take you bra shopping.
• Body hair will grow. Pubic hair will begin to appear. This is hair on or around the private parts (genitals). It starts out soft and fine and gets thicker and darker as you get older. You will also grow hair in your armpits.
• Your period will come. See "menstrual periods" below.
• You will get some pimples or acne, which is caused by hormones that start at puberty. Keep your face clean and use sunscreen or oil-free face creams. Talk to your doctor if you're having a lot of problems with pimples.

Most girls hit puberty sometime between the ages of 8 and 15. There is a wide age range as to when puberty begins. That's why some girls in 7th grade still look like little girls and others look really grown up.

You may be wondering when your period will come. Girls usually get their period about 2 years after their breasts start to grow.

Each month, one of the ovaries releases an egg, which travels through the fallopian tube to the uterus.

Each month, the uterus creates a lining of blood and tissue. If the egg is fertilized by sperm (this is what could happen with unprotected sex), the egg can implant within this lining of the uterus and cause a pregnancy. If the egg is not fertilized, it simply comes out through the uterus.

The uterus no longer needs the extra blood and tissue. The blood comes out through the vagina like your period. The period usually lasts from 2 to 7 days and occurs about once a month.

Be prepared for the arrival of your period.

Talk to your health care provider about when your period might start. Your healthcare provider will be able to tell you from other changes in your body when to expect your period.

Keep your period supplies in your backpack or purse. You will need some sanitary pads or panty liners. Being prepared for when your period arrives prevents you from being too worried.

Ask your mother, an older relative, a friend, or someone you trust to help you get supplies. Sanitary pads come in all different sizes and have an adhesive side so you can stick them to your underwear. The panty liners are small, thin towels.

Once you have your period, you may want to learn how to use tampons. A tampon is inserted into the vagina to trap the blood. The tampon has a string that is used to pull it out.

Have your mother or a trusted friend teach you how to use tampons. Change them every 4 to 8 hours.

You can feel really cranky right before your period, which is caused by hormones. You might feel:

• Irritable.
• That you have trouble sleeping.
• Sad.
• With less self-confidence. You may even have trouble planning what you want to wear to school.

Luckily, feeling cranky should go away once your period starts.

Try to be comfortable with your changing body. If you're stressed about the changes, talk to your parents or a health care provider you trust. Avoid dieting to prevent normal weight gain during puberty. Dieting is really unhealthy when you're growing up.

Talk to your provider if you have:

• Concerns about puberty.
• Really prolonged and abundant menses.
• Irregular periods that do not seem to regularize.
• Lots of pain and cramps with your periods.
• Any itching or odor from your private parts. This could be a sign of a yeast infection or a sexually transmitted disease.
• Lots of acne. You can use special soap or medicine to help.

Healthy child - puberty in girls; Development - puberty in girls; Menstruation - puberty in girls; Breast development - puberty in girls