Oestrogens in puberty
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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