reaching age of adolscence

• Adolescence is the period of life when the body undergoes changes leading to reproductive maturity
• Adolescents are also known as teenagers because they cover the period of the teens, which is 13 to 18 or 19 years of age
• Puberty is the age at which sex hormones and sex gametes begin to be produced, and a boy or a girl becomes sexually mature to reproduce
• During puberty, there is a sudden increase in height due to the elongation of long bones of legs and arms
• Girls grow faster than boys until about 18 years of age when both reach their maximum height
• Boys develop larger voice boxes (Larynx) to form Adam’s apple and have a deep voice, while girls have a high-pitched voice
• Boys' shoulders generally broaden during puberty, and their muscles grow prominently, while in girls, the region below the waist becomes wider and muscles grow less
• The secretion of sweat glands and oil glands increases during puberty
• In males, testes and penis develop completely, and in females, ovaries enlarge and eggs begin to mature
• At puberty, individuals reach mental, intellectual, and emotional maturity
• Secondary sexual characters are the characteristics that help distinguish males from females, such as breast development in girls and the growth of moustaches, beard, and chest hair in boys
• Hormones are chemical substances secreted by endocrine glands that control the changes that occur during adolescence
• Testosterone, the male hormone, is secreted by the testes at the onset of puberty and causes the development of facial hair, chest hair, etc. in boys
• At the onset of puberty in girls, ovaries secrete the female hormone estrogen, which leads to breast development
• Reproductive phase lasts longer in males than in females
• The uterine wall in females prepares to receive the fertilized egg and sheds if there is no fertilization, leading to menstruation every 28 to 30 days
• Menarche is the first menstrual flow in women at puberty, while menopause is the stoppage of menstruation at 45 to 50 years of age
• A target site is the body part where hormones released by endocrine glands reach to send a message, such as an organ, tissue, or cell
• Metamorphosis is the transformation of larva into adult through drastic changes, controlled by insect hormones in insects and Thyroxine hormone in frogs
• To maintain good reproductive health during adolescence, a balanced diet, personal hygiene, and avoiding drugs, alcohol, and tobacco are essential
• AIDS is caused by HIV (Human Immuno Deficiency Virus) and can be transmitted through unprotected sexual intercourse, blood transfusion, drug abuse, and from an infected mother to the developing foetus
• Adolescents often find themselves confused due to extreme mood swings caused by hormonal changes, leading to feelings of confusion, insecurity, and self-consciousness