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Oestrogens in puberty

Authoring team

Oestrogen first appears in the blood at puberty and causes the development of the female secondary sexual characteristics as follows:

  • breast:
    • development
    • enlargement and pigmentation of the areolae, although most pigmentation is associated with the oestrogen of pregnancy
  • female hair distribution; androgens probably have a more significant role:
    • pubic region with the upper margin concave upwards
    • axillae
    • absent from the face
  • genitourinary tract; enlargement of:
    • uterus
    • vagina
    • labia majora
    • labia minora
  • female distribution of fat:
    • around hips
    • within breasts
    • contributes to characteristic body shape
  • psychological changes of womanhood are associated with oestrogen exposure

In addition, oestrogens in conjuction with growth hormone increase the female growth rate at puberty:

  • epiphyseal skeletal growth is stimulated
  • the pelvis is stimulated to widen

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