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Pediatric and Adolescent Obstetrics and Gynecology pp 1–11Cite as

Physical Maturation

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Part of the book series: Clinical Perspective in Obstetrics and Gynecology ((CPOG))

Abstract

A girl’s late childhood and early teens are years of rapid physical changes. Between ages 10 and 15, girls grow approximately 25 cm, gain an average of 25 kg, and develop all of the secondary sexual characteristics of physiologically adult women, including the capacity to reproduce. However, while most 15-year-old girls are physically mature, the majority still are not emotionally, cognitively, and socially mature. The physical maturational changes of early adolescence are followed in the midteenage years by dramatic changes in behavior. Girls 15 to 18 often begin to explore their newly acquired sexuality; dating, petting, and sexual intercourse usually first occur in this age group. The relative psychologic and cognitive immaturity at this stage of mid-adoloscence contributes to the high frequency of medical problems that result from sexual behavior.

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Authors
  1. Susan M. Coupey
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  2. Deborah S. Saunders
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetric and Gynecolgy, USA

    J. Patrick Lavery (Associate Professor, Director, Medical Director) (Associate Professor, Director, Medical Director)

  2. Division of Maternal-Medicine, University of Louisville, USA

    J. Patrick Lavery (Associate Professor, Director, Medical Director) (Associate Professor, Director, Medical Director)

  3. Teenage Parent Program, Louisville, Kentucky, USA

    J. Patrick Lavery (Associate Professor, Director, Medical Director) (Associate Professor, Director, Medical Director)

  4. Division of Reproductive Endocrinology, Department of Obstetric and Gynecolgy, USA

    Joseph S. Sanfilippo (Associate Professor, Co-Director) (Associate Professor, Co-Director)

  5. Pediatric Adolescent Gynecolgy, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky, USA

    Joseph S. Sanfilippo (Associate Professor, Co-Director) (Associate Professor, Co-Director)

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© 1985 Springer-Verlag New York, Inc

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Coupey, S.M., Saunders, D.S. (1985). Physical Maturation. In: Lavery, J.P., Sanfilippo, J.S. (eds) Pediatric and Adolescent Obstetrics and Gynecology. Clinical Perspective in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-5064-7_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-5064-7_1

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4612-9547-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4612-5064-7

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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