What do the puberty hormones do?
Hormones benefit the body in many ways: • They cause your breasts to grow, hair to grow under your arms and in your pubic area, and they help your body change from a girl’s shape to a woman’s shape. • They cause many changes inside your body. For example, your uterus (womb) and vagina (birth canal) grow. • They work with other hormones to cause the growth spurt seen around puberty. • They are needed for your body to have regular menstrual periods. • They work with calcium to build stronger bones. • They cause you to be a sexual personto have sexual thoughts and feelings. How are the missing hormones replaced? When you feel ready to begin puberty (usually when your friends are starting puberty (around 11-13 years), you and your doctor can decide to replace the missing hormones. You will start by taking a pill with a low dose of estrogen. Your doctor will want to use low doses at first so that your body will change slowly. You will have regular check-ups with your doctor, and your dose o
