Puberty’s changes:
-Hormonal changes
• GA 10 wk: GnRH is present in the hypothalamus and LH & FSH are present in the pituitary gland
• GA 20 weeks: peak of LH & FSH
• At birth: LH & FSH concentrations are still high, then decline during 1st several week of life and remain low during the prepubertal years
-physical changes: rapid growth spurts, the development of breasts and pubic hair
-psychological changes: become moody, self-conscious, aggressive
-behavioural changes: experimentwith new/potentially risky activities-smoking, drinking alcohol, sex