sexual maturation
Becoming physically adult
Sexual maturation is the process of developing the physical characteristics and reproductive capacity of an adult.
It encompasses puberty and the hormonal changes that bring secondary sex characteristics—breast development, voice deepening, body hair growth.
The term appears in biological and medical contexts: The study tracked sexual maturation in adolescents over five years.
- menarcheOnset of menstruation
- first periodInitial division of play
- pubertySexual development stage
- gonadsGamete-producing glands
- sex hormonesReproductive system regulators
hair · hormones · testosterone · spermatogenesis · voice · ovulation · secondary sex characteristics · growth spurt · voice change · Tanner stages · precocious puberty · adrenarche · body odor · acne breakouts · estrogen · chest · menstruation · adolescence
sexual maturationchildhood
Life's earliest phase
infancy · prepubescence · early childhood · preadolescence · prepuberty