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Basics
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For You
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)
-
Parenting Teens: Guiding Kids Through Turbulent Years
(National Institutes of Health)
-
The Power of Peers: Who Influences Your Health?
(National Institutes of Health)
Also in Spanish
- 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? (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
- Bedwetting (Nocturnal Enuresis) (For Teens) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
- Body Image and Self-Esteem (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
- Body Odor (For Young Men) (Boston Children's Hospital)
- Body Odor (For Young Women) (Boston Children's Hospital) Also in Spanish
- Does Touching Breasts Make Them Grow? (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
- Gynecomastia (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
- Is My Penis Normal? (For Teens) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
- Removing Pubic Hair (For Young Women) (Boston Children's Hospital) 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: 7 Things to Know
(National Institute of Mental Health)
Also in Spanish
- What's the Right Weight for My Height? (For Teens) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
- Why Are My Breasts Different Sizes? (Nemours Foundation)
- Why Are My Breasts Sore? (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
- 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)
- Article: Genetic, psychological, and environmental factors are uniquely associated with onset of...
- Article: Analysis of Longitudinal Change Patterns in Developing Brain Using Functional and...
- Article: Co-creating a youth development survey with racial, ethnic, and gender diverse...
- Teen Development -- see more articles
Reference Desk
- Female Reproductive System (For Teens) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
- Male Reproductive System (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
Find an Expert
Patient Handouts
- Adolescent development (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health.