From girl to woman

Kathrin Rothfischer studied microbiology and genetics in Regensburg after an excursion into German studies. Presenting complex issues in an easily understandable way was her passion even then. That is why she turned this passion into a profession after graduating: After various positions in the medical specialist publishing house and in the public press, she finally found her journalistic home at

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Puberty is quite a turbulent, but also an exciting time. The transformation from girl to young woman can begin and progress very differently with your girlfriend than with you: Maybe your nipples change or you discover your first pubic hair. For some it happens at the age of ten, for others only at the age of 14. This is completely normal! Only between the ages of 17 and 20 are all developments complete and your body has grown up.

New hair

The main cause of physical changes in girls is primarily the sex hormone estrogen. Among other things, it ensures that you suddenly get hair in many parts of your body. They can look different in every person, your genes determine the color and shape. Most of the time they start to sprout sporadically and then gradually become denser. They grow on the legs, the mons pubis (the bulging part above your vagina), on the labia, under the armpits, and sometimes even on the bosom.

Many girls remove the hair on the legs, under the armpits and in the so-called bikini area. There are various options for this, for example shaving, epilation or removal with wax. You have to find out for yourself which is the best method for you. But it always takes a little practice to achieve a good result. Especially at first, your skin may be irritated with redness and small pimples. You don't have to remove the hair, it's up to you to decide.

Female curves

Estrogen also makes your body look more feminine: you get more buttocks, hips and thighs are rounded, and your bosom grows. Most of the time it starts with your nipples getting bigger. The skin around the nipple, also called the areola, bulges and becomes darker. Sometimes it even happens that one breast is smaller than the other. The reason for this is that the puberty hormones are not active in the important parts of your body at the same time. Unfortunately, growth cannot be influenced, but don't panic: by the end of puberty at the latest, both breasts will be almost the same size.

In addition, other genital organs develop. Inside your body, these are the uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries and vagina. The outer genitals include the labia majora and minor, the clitoris in front between the labia and the entrance to the vagina. The entire area is called the vulva. The external genitals look different in every woman. The labia may be more reddish or bluish. They can also be of different lengths. The inner ones can be the same size as the outer ones, and the clitoris can also be of different sizes - all perfectly normal.

First rule

Perhaps your changed body still feels a bit strange, but your feminine curves have a special meaning. Because only when your body fat is one fifth of your weight are your sexual organs ready for your first menstrual period. A sign of this is a whitish discharge that many girls discover in their panties. After that, it will take another six to twelve months for the period to come.

If the hormonal balance is not yet balanced, the bleeding can be very irregular at first. A cycle of 30 days and more or a break of two months is normal. In theory, you can do anything you normally do during your period.

Some girls have mood swings, headaches or cravings for sweets before their menstrual period. It's so common that it even has a name: premenstrual syndrome. You may also have abdominal pain or cramps during your days. This is uncomfortable, but mostly harmless; the symptoms usually go away when the menstrual period ends. Warmth is often good for menstrual cramps like this: a hot water bottle, a bath, antispasmodic teas ... find out what works best for you.

As soon as you've got your first period, you can theoretically get pregnant too. Therefore, if you have a boyfriend and you sleep together, it is important to consider contraception.

Hymen - no problem!

The hymen is a thin membrane that surrounds the entrance to the vagina. The first time a girl has sex with a boy, the membrane can tear. This is called defloration. Some feel slight pain while others feel almost nothing. The small crack heals without any problems after a few days. The hymen develops in the same way as the breast or genitals. The transparent membrane of childhood becomes a kind of soft, very flexible bead. The membrane has an opening so that mucus or menstrual blood can flow out. Even if you haven't slept with a boy, you can still use tampons during your menstrual period.

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