Puberty is a stage in an individual's life when the body begins its transformation from childhood to adulthood. This is the period when secondary sex characteristics are formed and differences between male and female become more prominent. Though teenage is the time when the signs of puberty are seen in both boys and girls, the process of achieving puberty is totally different in both the sexes.
Puberty is a term that describes the time in life when the body matures and the reproductive organs become functional. It is caused by a release of the sex hormones testosterone and oestrodiol in the body.
There is no set age for puberty to start. The age at which puberty begins and the rate of development differs from child to child.
Most girls will begin puberty at 8-14 years of age, with the average age being 11. Girls develop more quickly than boys. Most girls reach full maturity within four years of beginning puberty.
Boys tend to develop later than girls, and the development process usually takes longer. Most boys begin puberty at 9-14 years of age, with the average age being 12. Most boys reach maturity within six years of beginning puberty.