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Summary
As a teenager, you go through many physical, mental, emotional, and social changes. The biggest change is puberty, the process of becoming sexually mature. It usually happens between ages 10 and 14 for girls and ages 12 and 16 for boys. As your body changes, you may have questions about sexual health.
During this time, you start to develop your own unique personality and opinions. Some changes that you might notice include
- Increased independence from your parents
- More concerns about body image and clothes
- More influence from peers
- Greater ability to sense right and wrong
All of these changes can sometimes seem overwhelming. Some sadness or moodiness can be normal. But feeling very sad, hopeless, or worthless could be warning signs of a mental health problem. If you need help, talk to your parents, school counselor, or health care provider.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Related Issues
- 5 Ways to Promote a Positive Body Image for Kids (Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics)
- Communication and Your 13-to 18-Year-Old (Nemours Foundation)
- Understanding Your Teen's Emotional Health (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
- What Is a Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrician? (American Academy of Pediatrics) Also in Spanish
Specifics
- Am I in a Healthy Relationship? (For Teens) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
- Body Image and Self-Esteem (For Teens) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
- Body Odor (For Young Men) (Children's Hospital Boston)
- Body Odor (For Young Women) (Children's Hospital Boston) Also in Spanish
- Gynecomastia (For Teens) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
- Help! Is This My Body? (For Teens) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
- Is My Penis Normal? (For Teens) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
- Removing Pubic Hair (For Young Men) (Children's Hospital Boston)
- Removing Pubic Hair (For Young Women) (Children's Hospital Boston) Also in Spanish
- Sexual Attraction and Orientation (For Teens) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
- Talking to Your Doctor (For Teens) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
-
The Teen Brain: 6 Things to Know
(National Institute of Mental Health)
- What's the Right Weight for My Height? (For Teens) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
- Why Are My Breasts Different Sizes? (For Teens) (Nemours Foundation)
- Why Are My Breasts Sore? (For Teens) (Nemours Foundation)
- Why Is My Voice Changing? (For Teens) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
Clinical Trials
-
ClinicalTrials.gov: Adolescent Development
(National Institutes of Health)
Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
Reference Desk
- Female Reproductive System (For Teens) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
- Male Reproductive System (For Teens) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
Find an Expert
- American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
-
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
(National Institute of Child Health and Human Development)
Also in Spanish
- KidsHealth (Nemours Foundation)
Patient Handouts
- Adolescent development (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish