Adolescence is that period in our life where nothing seems to go smoothly, yet our best memories are about those wonderful days. The present-day adolescent is considered to be more knowledgeable about world affaris, thanks to the onslaught of the media, so much so, many question the need for any special programme for adolescents. On the other hand some feel disillusioned about the way things are going and hence point out the futility of any intervention programme at his level.

Many among us working in the field of HIV/AIDS are convinced that today's youngsters have totally lost the traditional moral values that we talk about and it is high time that we accept the ground reality and go all out to prevent HIV infection among this vulnerable group. But still the society does not accept this view and hence is unlikely to cooperate with any drastic programme. No parent is likely to accept the view that their own little one is at high risk of HIV infection, even if hard data is to the contrarary. Yet everybody is convinced about the need to do something before things go out of hand, particularly looking at the experience of many other countries.

For the parents of Kerala at least what comes to their heart is academic performance of their children. Studies done at the child Development Centre, Thiruvananthapuram have conclusively proved that birth-weight is the single most important factor that determines the mental development of the young child and that a bay at least to start with. Now is is also very clear that the most important community factor that predicts low birthweight has sure edge over the low birthweight baby at least to start with. Now it is also very clear that the most important community factor that predicts low birthweight is the poor mnutitional status of the mother reflected as a pre-pregancy weight is the poor nutritional status of the mother reflected as a pre-preganancy weight of less than 40 kg and height of less than 140 cm. Hence the Action Plan for the child, kerala has stipulated that all girls in Keral on completion of 18 years should aim to have 45 kg weight and 145 cm. height. Hence nutritional monitoring should from part and parcel of any adolescent programme.

Adolescence is also that period in our lives where contradictions are the rule and not the exception. A period when they demand independence, yet are mostly dependent, a period when maximum hostility is shown to the parents, but they want to be loved and cared for by them, a period with maximum rebellion shown, yet want to be the pet baby of their mothers, a period when they reject advice outright, yet love to be guided through difficulties. Surely any conventional approach is likely to fail with this group. Then what do we do? Reminds me a story. An ardent devotee of God complained to him that, God, you told me that you would walk beside me always, then why is that whenever I am in trouble I see only one pair of foot prints? Why is that you leave my side when I need you most ? God smiled and said, son when you were in trouble I was carrying you on my shoulders. There is thus always a way of guiding adolescents without hurting their huge ego.

The period of adolescence roughly spans the age of 12 to 18 years. This is a fascinating period of life because it marks the transition from being a dependent child to becoming an idependently functioning adult.

There is a gland in the brain - the Pituitary gland. Just before puberty there is a rapid increase in the hormones secreted by this gland and there is an increased sensitivity of the ovary and testes to these hormones. This is responsible for initiating the changes of puberty.

During this period the ovary and tests increase in size and become functionally mature and secondary sex characters like the breast, hair in the arm pit and external genital organs develop.

There is rapid increase in height and weight and also growth in most of the body systems as a result of the various hormones produced during this period, and the body changes from that of a child to that of an adult.

Girls start tall earlier than boys but boys catch up within a few years. so if one is a boy and shorter than the girls in the class, there is no need for worry, he will be taller than most of the girls by the time he is in college.

Boys will become more muscular and grow facial hair and moustache begins to appear. One may also find hair growing in one's armpits, chest and also around one's sex organs. The voice will also change one day from the high pitched voice of a child when one wakes up and also on other occasions when one is excited. These are emissions occur in boys and this is normal and need not cause any alarm or concern. The testes which has increased in size now starts producing sperms which means that the boy is now, capable of fathering a child.

Bodily changes in girls include enlargement of breasts and the areola and the nipples, widening of the hips and growth of hair in the armpits and around external genital organs. However the most striking change the girls undergo will be the beginning of menstruation - 3 to 5 days of bleeding from the uterus once a month - that will be continue until the late forties or early fifties. For the first one year the period may not be regular. The onset of menarche only means that the person is physically capable of becoming a mother.

The appearence of pimples is due to the effect of sex hormones increasing the size and secretion of the oil producing glands in the face. This occurs in both boys and girls and is quite normal, although often disturbing.

The testes are made up of many loops along the walls of which the sperms are formed. The two ends drain into ducts in the head of the epididymis. From these, the sperms pass through the tail of the epididymis and into the vas deferens. They enter through the ejaculatory ducts into the urethra at the time ejaculation. The penis has two parts. They are the glans and the part surrounding the urethra. The glans is the slightly enlarged part of the penis and is covered with skin at birth.

The fluid that is eaculated at the time of orgasm, the semen, contains sperms and secretions of the seminal vesicles, prostrate, Cowper's glands and probably the urethral glands. There are normally about 100 million sperms per millilitre of semen.

Noctumal emissions are an expression of the development of the testicles and other male organs of reproduction. This occurance is normal and should be no cause for worry. It may as early as the 9th or 10th year or as late as the 16 th or 17th year.

The female reproductive system consists of a pair of ovaries that produce eggs or ova, a pair of fallopian tubes, the uterus, the vagina and external genital organs. Hymen is that thin centrally perforated membrane that seperates the external genitalia and the vaginal canal and is usually intact in a virgin unless otherwise destroyed by excessive physical activities.

The reproductive system of the female shows regular cyclic changes. This is the menstrual cycle and its most conspicuous feature is the most conspicuous feature is the periodic vaginal bleeding that occurs with the shedding of the uterine lining.

Sexual development begins early in adolescence when hoemones stimulate the two types of cells within ovaries and secrete hormones. Secondary female characteristics appear during this time and menstruation starts. These hormones are also responsible for the growth spurt.

The length of the cycle varies in women but on average it is 28 days from the start of one menstrual period to the next. About the 14th day of the cy cle, a mature ovum is released by the ovary. This is known as ovulation. The ovum is picked up by the fimbriated ends of the fallopian tube from where it is trasported to the uterus. If ferilization does not occur, it is expelled through the vagina. If the ovum joins with a sperm, conception takes place.

One egg/ovum is released alternately from each of the two ovaries. During a woman's childbearing years (in the course of a normal reproductive life) about 500 ova are stimulated to mature. But most of these ova are not fertilized.

After the release of the ovum, certain hormones are secreted. These stimulate the uterus, causing the wall of the utureed ovum gets embedded in the uterus. When conception does not take place, the egg or ovum, along with the thickened lining of the uterus and blood, is shed through the vagina. This is menstruation.

Normally, bleeding occurs for three to five days. Some girls experience severe pain before or during menstruation. If the pain is severe, there is no need to suffer quitely, Medicines can help. Good nutrition and Iron-Folate tablets are also necessary to compensate for the blood loss.

Great care should be taken in personal hygiene during the period of adolescence. Keep the genital organs clean and dry. Good dental hygiene, bathing twice a day, washing hands before eating and after going to toilet, etc., are good habits to follow. Among boys attention should be given to wash away 'smegma' thick secretions collected - under the foreskin of the penis -while bathing and after urination, whenever possible.

Among girls it is important to remember that the female urethratube through which urine is passed is situated close to the vaginal opening urine. Care should also be taken to wash from front to back after passig motion to prevent urinary infectioon. Not taking adequate water during hot summer days and not passing urine in the school (may be because toilets are not clean), are the most important reasons for getting urinary infection.

Only clean clothes, pads, or sanitary napkins should be used during periods. They should be changed frequently and the area should be kept clean and dry as much as possible.

It is not necessary or advisable to remove the hair around the genital organs. It is not uncommon to have some discharge coming from there, especially before menstuation. There may also be some itching around the genital opeining or in the groins especially after menstruation. One need not feel embarrassed about this. If the discharge is smelly staining clothes, a doctor who is well acquainted with the girl, even as a child and in who the girl has confidence may be consulted.

Every month, a woman's ovaries release one egg into the fallopian tubes. The one or two days before the egg is dicharged is her feritle period and conception can take place only at this time.

Millions of sperms are released during ejaculation; however, only a single sperm may fertilize the egg. Several hundred of them may reach the fallopian tube; they then burrow through the thick protective layers that surround the egg and the first sperm cell to pass through these layers fertilizes the egg.

The fertlized egg travels down the fallopian tube and implants itself in the wall of the uterus. Hormonal changes occur in the body and these can be detected fin the urine through a pregnancy test. Such a test will show a positive result four to six weeks after conception.

All methods of contraception are the shared responsibility and decision of both partners. It is preferable to postpone pregnancy until the couple feels physically, emotionally and financially capable of caring for a baby.

Only (i) abstinence, (ii) Sex with a single faithful, uninfected partner and (iii) condom-use, provide protection against trasmission of HIV or other infections. To be effective, condoms should be of good quality and lubricaed; they should be used properly and regularly.

Even though the body rapidly changes and grows into the adult form, emotional development takes longer to become stable. This means that though the body is capable of performing adult roles, the emotions may not be completely free from the patterns and reactions seen during early years. The people around and sometimes even the parents may not realize this. so when the adolescent is worried about the various changes he/ she is facing the elders mayinterpret ths worry as "moodiness".

On the other hand, the adolescent may expect to be treated like a grown-up and even want to do things like grown-ups without realizing that it would probably be wiser to wait until he/she is an adult, so that the responsibilities and consequences of actions are understood better. during this time one may easily get upset when one is not treated like and adult and also rebel against anyone who questions one's right to do so.

An adolescent expects to behave confidently like an adult, but loses confidence in oneself while trying to do so. There is a reason for worry. As one grows older one will be emotionally more confident.

Another important aspect of the emotional change faced by the adolescent is the realisation that the opposite sex is no longer irritating but attractive. Curiosity about sexual matters is a common part of growing up and an essential part of preparing of adulthood. Sexual fantasies about people of the opposite sex are a common part of growing up and are not abnormal. Friendship between a boy and a girl can be like the friendship between a boy and a boy or a girl and girl can be like the friendship between of the opposite sex with respect and dignity.

Sexual curiosity and fantasies as well as hormonal changes may arouse strong sexual feelings. One may attempt to satisfy these feelings by masturbation stimulation of the genile organs to achieve sexual satisfaction. But it is not abnormal and need not arouse a sense of guilt or shame. However it should not be encouraged. Yet if it bothers one all the time, one may need the help of a psychologist or pediatircian.

The importance of self- esteem in personality development is well established. Self esteem or self-concept is an integral part of personality which an adolescent should develop in handling peer pressure and decision making.

Individuals who have high self-esteem are more realistic in their approval of self and others. they are less wounded by criticism and more above to profit by it; less anxious for approval, more ready to participate, more inclined to aim high, more consistently successful and less daunted by failures than those whose self-esteem is low.

Self-esteem is a personality trait, a learnt response which re-education and re-enforcement, can be positively modified. A teacher who offers every child success at his her own level, and also has the gift of making every child a calued, significant and respected member of the class, can easily raise the self-esteem of the child. Every person has an innate psychological need to succeed, and this success cannot always be in academics alone, Hence the teacher should make a positive attempt to encourage the child to achieve success in areas where he/she has strength. If not the child may show undesirable habits to catch the attention of other.

A person's thinking process is influenced by this ability to analyze, introspect, evaluate any phenomenon in a particular way. Adolescents are to be guided to become aware of the thought processes taking place within them. This is possible by consciously developing positive thinking. Every student can be trained to start thinking positively in classroom and real life situations. Positive thinking is a process that provides an approach to getting the best out of a given situation; it strengthens the personality in general and self-esteem in particular.

The theory underlying the self-empowerment approach is based on liberal principles of education where individuals are free to make their decisions and be accountable for them. Some young people cope well with teen-age years while some others find it stressful. Sources of stress are : identity crisis, the need to belong, lack of appreciation from parents or teachers, instant gratification seeking behavious need to find audience for non-conformist or non-traditional attitudes and most important of all to be popular or well liked. Then there are those who live off 'kicks'. These desires are reinforced and transmitted by mass media, teen-age magazine, fashion aspects of mass media and cinema. to be able to belong to a peer group, new experimentation may often be a part of some person's 'initiation' into the group. so they give into unhealthy pressure.

It is very common for youngsters to have a role model. The model's ability to deal with adverse situations and their value system will directly influence adolescents. Parents and teachers are usually the role models for young students.

The ability to cope with failures, to plan leisure with time activities, to communicate well with peers, parents and teachers, and assertive behaviour, will help students to deal with unhealthy peer pressure.

The teacher should get the students to think about life situations. Life students should be able to define peer pressure, identify the pressure, both positive and negative. The goal is to teach the students to be 'assertive' as a way to say 'NO'. the verb 'assert' means to state positively, assuredly, plainly, strongly, smoothly and convincingly. Being assertive does not mean being aggressive.

Studies require new ways of thinking. For example one will not be able to memorise everything as one did in one's lower classes. Hence one will start using abstract reasoning and develop problem solving skills. So this becomes the age intellectual pursuits. The understanding of events in on's environment improves and the ability to arrive at one's own conclusion to various situations develops. During adolescence one finds that friends are very important and what they think of one is more important than what the parents think of him/her. This is only normal and helps one to become independent. But this has its dangers too-one may should not be like one's friends and they may urge him to do things which one really gambling, experimenting with sex/ drugs/alcohol, etc. Please remember that one always has the right to say, "No" to any of these pressures. when one has problem with any of these, it is best to discuss it with a trusted elder in the family or a friendly teacher, or one's trusted doctor.

One does not become and adult by doing things which even adults should not be doing. Adulthood is a period of life and not just a way of doing things. When one's turn comes up, the choice one makes will be one's own and not somebody else's.

Young adolescents must be given opportunities to practise making decisions. They need to become self-directed individuals with a capacity for critical thinking. If decisions are made by adults who severely regulate a child, the child is going to let others control his or her life. As a result the child will not make any attempt to make decisions. Adolescents have to make choices:some are harmless and inconsequential some have long lating and harmful effects,if there are negative outcomes due to some decisions that were not well thought out,they will eventually result in an adolescent who is frustrated and unhappy.

The young teenager who is experiencing a period of rapid and intense physical,psychologicaland emotional changes is very vulnerable to all stimuli in the enviornment easily influenced by a wide variety of messages and in formation .Students need to look closely into the messages or stimuli be critical about those that have a direct impact on their daily life ,especially those that affect their physical and emotional well-being (eg.use ir abuse of drugs\alcohol.)

The ability to make correct decisions may not be cultural process of growing up.Adolescents should be guided to think and analyse critically about a variety of issues .They should be able to form opinions based on a certain value systems.their sense of right and wrong will help them to make decisions .Critical thinking forces an individual to examine t he facts and the information available carefully before acting,thus helping him to make wise decisions

The former is a pessimistic view and the latter is a sign of positive thinking.Parents and teachers are in a position to modify childerns ways of viewing things such as life,challenge .competition and setbacks,by making them realize their own strength and capabilities.

The whole process of positive thinking is to lead the person to face,play and realize life. Today's life has more competition and less comprtition .In every field persons are pitted against one another and excellence is widely proved on the basis of survival of the fittest ather than on competencies.This is a negative developement and studentsmshould not fall prey or becomes victims of the competitive world.

A person starts feeling confident when he\she is encouraged at the right moment in the right direction .Every person performs a right action or takes a right decision at some time or other. The positive storkes from parents, teachers and elders at this moment, are instrumental in developing self-confidence in the person.

The decisions we take and the activities we do are aimed at reaching an objectives.There are occassions when things do not turn out as we thought.The impact the failure made on us is sometimes more disastrous than the failure itself. So we need to clarify and approach the problem carefully so as not to become victims of our own thoughts.

The feeling of failure is a subjective reaction to thee unexpected ,unfavourable outcome .Perception of failure cannot be generalized since the mental make-up,attachment towards the task or importances attached to the outcome vary from person to person from situation tosituation and from time to time.The same person may perceive an outcome as failure at one time and not so at some other time.

The innate drive of every person to reach a balanced state of mind is nature's gift to help us out of an unwanted situation.Every person's growth has a history of coping behind it At.the students 'level ,with less experience and with more expectations in academics ,sports and special activities ,they are likely to face setbacks and failures.These failures should not impair their development.As a preparatory platform to face the challenges of life ,the young will have to be properly trained to cope with unexpected outcome.

Our task of carrying the message of "FAILURE CANNOT CONTINUE TO BE FAILURE IF WE CONTINUE TO GROW"gains importance.Altenatives have to be put forward before young people or they have to be helped to identify the alternatives.Students who feel a sense of control and responsibility in life remain self -confident even where there are occasional failures. Sucess or failure are not as important for students as are self -confidence,the feelings of responsibility and self-control

Inability to cope with failure may result in low self-esteem, dejection and,ultimately, in depleting one's sense of competence. This is the psycho-social process which a person undergoes.

Many live in the past or worry about the future and do not realize the worth of the present. Any present condition / outcome is undoubtedly a product of the past, but the present is a seed of the future. By motivating students to live in the present and training them to fuse the means and ends of the task, we can achieve much towards fulflling our task.

Students who are gainfully utilising their leisure time are less time are less influenced by unhealthy life styles.Gainful leisure-time activities include sports,reading,music,hobbies.helping others,appreciation of nature,spending time with family,etc

Every student should be encouraged to develop a hobby or an activity ,either in school or at home,which will kindle his/her thinking and creativity.The idea is not to have any time to be aimless and idle .An adolescent who is not able to plan his leisure time often joins a group of peers who are also aimless .These are the young people who are prone to high risk activities.Often,to justify these activities,they become defiant and don't want to hear any advice or suggestions.

Parents have a responsibility to introduce their children to various activities and help develop them.They should have some special family time when the children feel free to discuss anything.

Schools should encourage participation in activities like Health Clubs,National Services Scheme,Red Cross Society, Scouts and Guides and other clubs to develop meaningful leisure time activites.Teachers can definitely take the lead in these activities.Teachrs can definetly take the lead in these activities, which may not bring any monetary bnefit at all but surely will give them lot of psychological satisfaction of accomplishment.

Recently one adolescent girl told me"the whole day my mother keeps telling me don't do that,but she never once told me what I should do with my time".This, is essence,summarise the problem of adolescence,with a mind wanting to explore new feelings, dream about anything and everthing and a down to earth but most unimaginitive parents worried about the immediate examinations on hand ,admission to a Professional College and so on.

Before we even dream of counselling an adolescent we must be very sure that we understand the adolescent psyche very well.They are different and rightly so

Lots of anxiety regarding normal variations of growth,secondary sexual characteristics and also about future in fact more anxiety about distance future-concerns rather than immediate targets

Need to be loved accepted and pampered a lot demands attention cant accept failure.Since everybody cant be number one in studies parents need to encourage situations where they can be a success wheather it is sports music art or literature.

A child blossoms forth through adolescence with the help of warmth, security and love of family. During this adolescence period, there will be a total change of attitudes . His/her personality will experience some physical and emotional changes. Love and attraction for the other sex and the sexual urge generally commence at this stage.

Father and child; mother and child; friends; a man and a woman. Love can also be expressed through a hug, a kiss, an arm around the shoulder, a smile or just a meaningful eye contact.

A relationship develops through a sense of belonging, affection, understanding, friendship and years later we should be able to remember it with happiness. In any relationship, remember that it should never leave behind in you a sense of guilt or hurt. If you love someone you will never want to hurt him or her. You will never want him/her to lose his/her self-respect just for your few moments of pleasure.

Thus relationship between a man and a woman is qualified by a life-long commitment, sanctified by a marriage. Faithfulness, good understanding, give-and-take Are all characteristics of such a healthy relationship.

The two together take the journey, agreeing to offer as a total self-gift to the partner himself/herself, both and soul. This also has a private form of love which is intimate, leading to physical closeness with each other and in this loving embrace, the Man inserts his penis in to the woman's vagina and gives her something of his own: his seed of life. The woman lovingly receives this seed. The fruit of their love can be a little baby born to them nine months later. Thus this relation can be transformed in to another living human being, complementing and fulfilling their love. Today each couple is advised to have just two children to plan their family well.

The tremendous power of sexual energy is to be well channelized. A boy/girl who has a healthy attiude towards his/ her sexuality will grow up to be a happy, responsible and loving father/mother. and a healthy individual.

By teaching life skills to young adolescents, we are trying to prevent them from experimenting with drugs, alcohol and casual sex. These yougsters have to deal with the preassur of having their beliefs and calue systems constanly challenged, even while they are trying to achieve their goals in spite adverse situations.

Values can be considered as roots, giving meaning to our life and its activity. The changing socio-economic and politital scene, exposure to media, varieties of information, and peer pressure demand that adolescents think critically and build up their own value system on the basis of universally accepted principles. This continues through value clarification and growing commitment, until the values become a consistent aspect of the persons's behaviour.

The family stands for certain values necessary for living usefully and meaningfully. Only if the sapling is fenced properly will it grow and become a strong tree, so too, with young people.

A person with a wholesome personality is one who has strong mental, physical and congnitive skills which enable him to behave, rellate to and act effectively in the society in which he lives. Value-based actions undertaken by such a perosn are evaluatory and self-disciplinary skills can enable students to see the applicablity of values and the benefits that come from the value systems that they have developed.

Sex should be linked with love, affection, tenderness, care and consideration for the feelings of other and respect for one another. This is the normal outcome of warm affectionate and healthy upbringing. The more sex is associated with fear, guilt and aggression, the less integrated it will be with aspect and affection. A sexual development is a learning process. A person's sexual expression depends on socialization and he/she should be encouraged to develop behaviour which is responsible and accountable.

Education aims at initiating people into worthwhile activities concerned with learing and understanding. Sex and family life therefore can only give the facts: these cannot impose a particular attitude towards sexual morality. Sex and family education must aim at imparting knowledge and healthy understanding of sexual behaviour, complimented by love and mutaul concern. The infulence of peer pressure as a strong motivating factor is key issue that should be discussed freely with the students.

Sex and familly life education are therefore complete only when the youth are capable of maing informed decisions. The more informed a person is the better he/she is able to choose the responsible course of behaviour. The more aware one is of the options, the freedom one has to conduct oneself. The more aware one is othe options, the more freedom one has to conduct oneself. Freedom and responsibility are two sides of the same coin.

Sex and family life education should enable to be aware of a full range of possible sexual behavious and values so that they can meaningfully choose their own behaviour. Teaching about the reproductive system alone is not sufficient.

As part of growing up, you will go through puberty. Puberty is the time in your life when your body changes from that of a child to that of an adult. These changes are caused by chemicals in the body called hormones. Because there are so many changes that happen during puberty, you may feel like your body is out of control. In time, your hormones will balance out and your body will catch up.

Not only does your body change, but your emotions change too. How you think and feel about yourself, your family and friends, and your whole world, may seem different. As you go through puberty, you will begin to make important decisions for yourself, take on more responsibilities, and become more independent.

If you are already going through some of these changes, you may be asking yourself, "Am I normal?" or "Do other people my age feel the way I do?" Don't worry. Lots of changes happen during puberty and, although it can be a confusing time of life, it can be exciting.

This brochure was written to help you understand and deal with the changes puberty brings. Part 1 is about the changes girls go through during puberty. Part 2 is about the changes boys go through during puberty. Part 3 contains information for both girls and boys about the emotional changes during puberty. After you read the whole brochure you will learn not only about the changes you are going through, but also about the changes that are happening to the opposite sex.

Puberty is the time in a girl's life when her body changes from that of a young girl to that of a woman. It is also the time when a girl becomes physically able to have babies. Although there is no "right" time for puberty to begin, it generally starts earlier for a girl than it does for a boy - usually between 9 and 13 years of age. This is why many girls are taller and may act more mature than boys for a few years until the boys catch up.

Breasts: In most girls, puberty starts with breast growth. When your breasts start to develop, you may notice small, tender lumps under one or both nipples that will get bigger over the next few years. When breasts first begin to develop, it is not unusual for one breast to be larger than the other. However, as they develop, they will most likely even out before they reach their final size and shape. As your breasts develop, you may need a bra. Some girls feel that wearing a bra for the first time is exciting - it is the first step toward becoming a woman! However, some girls feel embarrassed, especially if they are among the first of their friends to need a bra. If the people around you make a bigger deal of your first bra than you would like, try to remember that they do not mean to embarrass you, they are just proud of how much you have grown.

Hair: Soft hair will start to grow in the pubic area (the area between your legs). This hair will eventually become thick and very curly. You may also notice hair under your arms and on your legs. Many women shave this hair. There is no medical reason to shave, it is simply a personal choice. If you decide to shave, be sure to use a lot of soap and water and a clean razor made for women. It is a good idea to use your own personal razor or electric shaver and not to share one with your family or friends.

Body shape: Hips get wider and your waist will get smaller. Your body will also begin to build up fat in the stomach, buttocks, and legs. This is normal and gives your body the curvier shape of a woman.

Body size: Arms, legs, hands, and feet may grow faster than the rest of your body. Until the rest of your body catches up, you may feel a little clumsier than usual.

Skin: Skin may get more oily and you may notice you sweat more. This is because your glands are growing too. It is important to wash every day to keep your skin clean and to use a deodorant or antiperspirant to keep odor and wetness under control. Despite your best efforts to keep your face clean, you still may get pimples. This is called acne and is normal during this time when your hormone levels are high. Almost all teenagers get acne at one time or another. Whether your case is mild or severe, there are things you can do to keep it under control. For more information on controlling acne, talk to your pediatrician or see the brochure "Acne Treatment and Control" from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

What happens during my period? During puberty, your ovaries begin to release eggs. If an egg is fertilized by sperm from a man's penis, it will grow inside your uterus and develop into a baby. To prepare for this, a thick layer of tissue and blood cells builds up in your uterus. If the egg does not meet with a sperm, these tissues and cells are not needed by the body. They turn into a blood-like fluid and flow out of the vagina. The menstrual period is the monthly discharge of this fluid out of the body. When a girl first begins to have her periods, she is able to get pregnant.

During your period, you will need to wear some kind of sanitary pad and/or tampon to absorb this fluid and keep it from getting on your clothes. Pads have adhesive strips and are worn inside the panties. Tampons are placed inside the vagina. The decision to use pads or tampons is your choice. Some girls prefer tampons because they do not like the feeling of wetness or the odor that may accompany pads. Some girls prefer pads because they are not comfortable inserting tampons into their vaginas.

When using a tampon for the first time, take your time, relax, and insert the tampon slowly into your vagina. This will allow the muscles in your vagina to relax and the tampon to go in easily. Make sure the string remains on the outside of your vagina so that you can remove the tampon. To avoid infection, change tampons often and do not wear them overnight.

Pads are often called "maxi" pads or "mini" pads and can be thick or thin. These are good for when the flow of your period is heaviest. Panty liners, which are very thin, can be used for the end of your period when there is usually very little discharge. Tampons come in different levels of thickness for when your period is heavy or light. Try out different brands and find the ones you like the best.

Most periods last from 3 to 7 days. After your period you may have a day or two of light bleeding, called spotting. This is normal. If you start bleeding regularly between periods, however, see your pediatrician.

Having your period does not mean you have to avoid any of your normal activities like swimming, horseback riding, or gym class. Exercise can even help get rid of cramps and other discomforts that you may feel during your period.

Beginning with their first period, many girls expect their menstrual cycles to occur exactly on schedule. But that rarely happens. During the first year (and sometimes longer) some girls have periods that seem to have no schedule. Cycles can be as short as 3 weeks; others as long as 6 weeks - or sometimes even longer. It may take a while for your periods to become regular (every 3 to 5 weeks). Even after they do become regular, it is not unusual for a girl to miss a period if she is sick, under a lot of stress, exercising heavily, has a poor diet, or is nervous about something. Of course, more than any other reason, pregnancy can cause a girl's period to stop.

Some girls bleed heavier than others during their periods. But don't worry, you won't bleed too much. You have about 5 quarts of blood in your body and you only lose 1 to 3 ounces of it during your period. However, if your period is really heavy (you soak more than 6 to 8 pads or tampons in a single day), talk to your pediatrician.

If you feel your symptoms are severe, talk to your pediatrician. Most of the time, cramping and other symptoms are mild and easy to control. Your pediatrician may suggest some medications or exercises to help you feel better. There are other menstrual problems that require a visit to your pediatrician. If you have any of the following symptoms, contact your pediatrician:

a sudden change in your period that does not have an obvious cause (like an illness) very heavy menstrual bleeding that lasts more than 7 to 10 days bleeding between periods severe abdominal pain that lasts for more than 2 days and is not early in your period you think you might be pregnant any other concern you may have that something is wrong with your menstrual cycle

If your pediatrician finds that you have an infection or other problems with your reproductive system, he or she may refer you to a doctor who specializes in women's reproductive health. This type of doctor is called an obstetrician/ gynecologist.

Girls are not the only ones who go through changes during puberty. Puberty for boys usually starts with a growth spurt at about 10 to 16 years of age. You may notice that you grow out of your clothes or shoes a lot faster than you used to. Don't worry, just as with girls, your hormones will balance out and your body will catch up.

Body size: Arms, legs, hands, and feet may grow faster than the rest of your body. Until the rest of your body catches up, you may feel a little clumsy.

Body shape: You will get taller and your shoulders will get broader. You will gain a lot of weight. During this time, many boys experience swelling under their nipples. This may cause them to worry that they are growing breasts. If you experience this, don't worry. It is common among boys your age and is a temporary condition. If you are worried about it, talk to your pediatrician.

During puberty, your muscles will also get bigger. Try not to rush this part of your growth. You may have friends who work out with weights and equipment to build up muscles, and you may want to begin this type of training yourself - often before your body is ready for it. If you are interested in these activities, talk to your pediatrician about a safe time for you to begin weight training.

Voice: Your voice will get deeper. This may start with voice cracking. As you continue to grow, the cracking will stop and your voice will stay at the lower range.

Hair: Hair will appear under your arms, on your legs and face, and above your penis. Chest hair may appear during puberty or years after, although not all men have chest hair. Some men shave the hair on their faces. There is no medical reason to shave, it is simply a personal choice. If you decide to shave, be sure to use shaving cream and a clean razor made for men. It is a good idea to use your own personal razor or electric shaver and not to share one with your family or friends.

Skin: Skin may get more oily and you may notice you sweat more. This is because your glands are growing too. It is important to wash every day to keep your skin clean and to use a deodorant or antiperspirant to keep odor and wetness under control. Despite your best efforts to keep your face clean, you still may get pimples. This is called acne and is normal during this time when your hormone levels are high. Almost all teenage boys get acne at one time or another. Whether your case is mild or severe, there are things you can do to keep it under control. For more information on controlling acne, talk to your pediatrician or see the AAP brochure "Acne Treatment and Control."

Penis: Your penis and testes will get larger. You may have erections more often due to an increase in sex hormones. Erections occur when the penis gets stiff and hard - sometimes for no reason. This is normal. Even though you may feel embarrassed, try to remember that most people will not even notice your erection unless you draw attention to it. Many boys become concerned about their penis size; a boy may compare his own penis size with that of his friends. It is important to remember that the size of a man's penis has nothing to do with his manliness or sexual functioning.

Your body will also begin to produce sperm during puberty. This means that during an erection, you may also experience ejaculation. This occurs when semen (made up of sperm and other fluids) is released through the penis. This could happen while you are sleeping. You might wake up to find your sheets or pajamas are wet. This is called a nocturnal emission or "wet dream." This is normal and will stop as you get older.

In addition to the many physical changes you will go through during puberty, there are many emotional changes as well. You may start to care more about what other people think about you. You want to be accepted and liked. At this time in your life, your relationships with others may begin to change. Some become more important and some less so. You start to separate more from your parents and identify with others your age. You may begin to make decisions that could affect the rest of your life.

Many people your age feel self-conscious about their changing bodies - too tall, too short, too fat, too skinny. Because puberty causes so many changes, it is hard not to compare what is going on with your body with what is happening to your friends' bodies. Try to keep in mind that everyone goes through puberty differently. Eventually, everyone catches up.

During this time, you also become more aware of your sexuality. A look, touch, or just thinking about someone may make your heart beat faster and produce a warm, tingling feeling all over. This is completely normal. You may be asking yourself the following questions:

Deciding to become sexually active can be very confusing. On one hand, you hear so many warnings and dangers about having sex. On the other hand, movies, TV, magazines, even billboards seem to be telling you that having sex is okay. The fact is, sex is a part of life and, like many parts of life, it can be good or bad. It all depends on you and the choices you make.

As you continue through puberty, you may experience pressure from many sources to have sex. Knowing where the pressures come from will make them much easier to deal with. Pressure to have sex may come from:

The media: Because there are so many images in the media about sex, it is easy to get the idea that having sex is the right thing to do. Sex in movies, TV shows, magazines, and in music is often shown as not having any risks. Do not let these messages fool you. In real life, having sex can be very risky.

Your own body: It is perfectly normal to be interested in sex. After all, growing sexually is what puberty is all about. The sexual urges you feel during puberty can be very powerful. What is most important is to stay in control of these feelings and not let them control you. Keep in mind that sex is not the only way to express how you feel about someone. Taking walks, talking, holding hands, hugging, and touching are great ways to be close to someone you have strong feelings for.

Your friends: It may seem like "everybody's doing it" or that people who have sex are "cool." Maybe you feel like you should have sex to be popular and fit in with the group. However, people like to talk about sex and some may want others to believe that they are having sex even when they are not. Someone who does not want to be your friend just because you are not having sex is probably someone who is not worth being friends with anyway. Do not let friends - or anyone - talk you into having sex. This is a decision you make when it is right for you, not for your friends.

Deciding whether or not to have sexual intercourse is one of the most important decisions you will ever make. Why not take your time and think it through? Talk with your parents about their values. Waiting to have sexual intercourse until you are older, in a serious relationship, and able to accept the responsibilities that come along with it is a great idea! You should enjoy being young without having to worry about things like pregnancy and deadly diseases.

However, if you decide to have sex, talk with your pediatrician about which type of birth control is best for you. When using condoms, always use latex condoms to prevent sexually transmitted diseases like chlamydia, herpes, and HIV (the AIDS virus). For more information on preventing pregnancy, ask your pediatrician about the AAP brochures "Deciding to Wait" and "Making the Right Choice: Facts for Teens on Preventing Pregnancy."

As you get older, there will be many decisions that you will need to make to ensure that you stay healthy. Eating right, exercising, and getting enough rest are important during puberty because of all the changes your body is going through. It is also important to feel good about yourself and the decisions you make. You have to learn to care for your own body, work hard and maintain good health, and to like yourself as you are.