At what age do girls start to develop breasts?

Girls will have a special reaction to their bodies when they enter puberty, because when they enter the menstrual period, the female body will have many changes, starting with the breasts. Women who enter puberty will feel a little tingling in their breasts. In fact, this is the breasts developing. Many people don’t know what’s going on because it’s the first time, and even think that a disease has begun. So at what age do girls start to develop breasts?

Breast development begins between the ages of 8 and 12. Initially, the mammary glands that make up the breasts and the surrounding protective fat tissue form a button-like bulge in the breasts and the surrounding areola (breast bud stage). After that, the nipples begin to grow larger, the areola gradually expands, and the color of the breasts and areola gradually deepens. Around the age of 14 to 15, breast development becomes more obvious and the breasts become noticeably raised. At the age of 16 or 17, the breasts are full, with clear lines, slightly sunken areola, and large and prominent nipples. At around the age of 18 or 20, the size and shape of the breasts are that of an adult woman (breast stage). However, the girl's breasts cannot secrete milk at this time, and it will take until she gives birth.

Breast development in girls marks the beginning of the development of female secondary sexual characteristics and is also a signal of the onset of puberty. Under the action of sex hormones, the breasts of girls aged 9 to 11 begin to develop. First, the nipples protrude and feel like a small lump, with some swelling and pain. Later, the breasts gradually swell and the light brown areola around the nipples gradually deepens in color and increases in size. Later, the nipples become large and protruding, and the breasts become fuller. Due to the influence of many factors such as genetics, environment, nutrition, and physique, the age at which girls enter puberty varies greatly from person to person. Generally speaking, breast enlargement from the age of 8 to 14 is normal. If breasts have not developed after the age of 16, you should go to the hospital to check the cause.

Precocious puberty refers to the onset of sexual maturity at a significantly earlier age. Medically, it refers to the premature development of children's gonads, that is, the testicles of males and the ovaries of females, which causes the early development of reproductive organs and the appearance of secondary sexual characteristics. The medical definition is that sexual development begins before the age of 8 for girls or before the age of 10 for boys. Early development of the reproductive system (including the appearance of adult secondary sexual characteristics), often occurring in a sequence similar to that of normal puberty. Precocious puberty is accompanied by accelerated physical development and growth, resulting in increased height and muscle development, premature closure of the epiphyses, and earlier growth cessation.

Precocious puberty in girls is manifested by the development of female sexual characteristics, such as breast growth, widening of the hips, growth of pubic and axillary hair, development of reproductive organs and the onset of menstruation. Symptoms of precocious puberty in boys include the growth of pubic hair, armpit hair, beard and Adam's apple, deepening of the voice, enlargement of the penis and testicles, and nocturnal emission. These are all homosexual precocious puberty. If a girl develops male sexual characteristics prematurely as she grows up, such as growing a beard, a long Adam's apple, a deepening voice, an enlarged clitoris, etc., this is called heterosexual precocious puberty, and is an abnormal phenomenon that requires prompt medical treatment.

Precocious puberty occurs more frequently in girls than in boys, with the ratio of girls to boys being 8:1. The cause of precocious puberty is unknown in 80% of girls and 40% of boys. Central nervous system damage, hypothyroidism and fibrous dysplasia of bone can all cause precocious puberty.

However, it should be noted that due to the continuous improvement of modern living standards and the increased intake of nutritional supplements, the age at which children enter puberty and reach sexual maturity has a tendency to be gradually advanced worldwide. Therefore, it is sometimes difficult to draw an absolute dividing line in age between normal sexual maturity and precocious puberty in children.

Children with precocious puberty are significantly taller than children of the same age, but when they reach puberty, they appear slightly shorter because they stop growing earlier. The inconsistency between a child's physical appearance and cognitive or social skills can sometimes cause problems.

We should take appropriate protective measures for girls' breasts during their development period. Our breasts are very fragile and breast diseases can occur at any time. Breast diseases are also diseases that many women are caught off guard and occur without knowing it. If you do not protect yourself well during your menstrual period, it may have an impact on your future. When choosing a bra, you must choose a looser bra to protect your breasts.