Sexual Development in Puberty and Adoles

SEXUAL DEVELOPMENT
IN PUBERTY AND ADOLESCENCE

Hudi Winarso
School of Medicine Ciputra University
Abstract
Adolescence is a phase of transition during which major developments of sexuality take

place. Puberty is a reached during adolescence, which is a major landmark in the
development of sexuality. The hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal axis function is highly
essential for the sexual development during puberty.
Adolescence can be broadly divided into three stages: Early (10 – 13 years), middle (14 –
16 years), and late (17 – 19 years). Adolescence sexuality development can be better
explained with the bio-psycho-social model.
Biological factors are the genetic factors and neuro-endocrinal factors, which determine
the biological sex and also having an influence on the psychological sex. During
adolescence the gonadal hormone, cortisol, and many other hormones play a role in causing
the onset of puberty. The secondary sexual characters are expressed due to this
neuro-endocrineal influence.
In both males and females-pubic hair develop which take a gender specific growth
pattern. In males, there occurs enlargement of genitals, appearace of beard and mustache,
and physique take a typical masculine shape. In females, there occurs development of breast,
menstruation starts, genitalia take an adult shape, and the physique changes to a femine type.
An adolescent’s interest in a sexual relationship is also influenced by the hormones.
Understanding puberty and adolescence sexuality has important clinical, legal, social,
cultural, as well as educational implications.
Key Words : Adolescence, puberty, development, sexuality
Introduction
Adolescence, derived from the Latin word “adolescere” meaning “to grow up” is a
critical developmental period. During adolescence, major biological as well as psychological
developments take place. Development of sexuality is an important bio-psycho-social
development, which takes an adult shape during this period. During adolescence, an
individual’s thought, perception as well as response gets colored sexually. Puberty is an
important landmark of sexuality development that occurs in the adolescence.
Puberty usually begins between the ages of eight and 12 in girls and between the ages of 10
and 14 in boys. In some cases, puberty does not occur within the normal age range. This
condition is called late puberty or delayed puberty.
Adolescence is a phase of transition during which major developments of sexuality take
place. The hypothalamo-pituitary –gonadal axis function is highly essential for the sexual
development during puberty.
Adolescence can be broadly divided into three stages : early (10 – 13 years), middle (14 –
16 years), and late (17 – 19 years). Physical changes start in early adolescence, where they
are very concerned about their body image (Sujita Komar, 2015).
Development of sexuality in an adolescent

Adolescence sexuality development can be better explained with the bio-psycho-social
model. Biological factors, psychological factors, as well as social factors have equal
importance in determining, the development of sexuality in adolescents.
Biological factors are the genetic factors and neuro-endocrinal factors, which determine
the biological sex and also having an influence on thepsychological sex. During adolescence
the gonadal hormones, cortisol, and many other hormones play a role in causing the onset of
puberty. The secondary sexual characters are expressed due to this neuro-endocrinal
influence (Dennis Fortenberry, 2013).
In both males and females-pubic hairs, axillary hairs develop which take a gender
specific growth pattern. In males, there occurs enlargement of genitals, appearance of beard
and mustache, and the physique takes a thypical masculine shape. In females, there occurs
development of breast, menstruation starts, genitalia takes an adult shape, and the physique
changes to a feminine type. An adolescent’s interest in a sexual relationship is also
influenced by the hormones (Russell, 2013).
Social factors or environmental factors also play a significant role in the development of
adolescent sexuality. The attitude of the parents toward sexuality,parenting style, cultural
influences are the important social factors which facilitates the sexual learning and decides
the sexual attitude of adolescent.
Other than the biological, psychological, and social factors, many more factors such as
legal, spiritual, ethical, and moral values significantly influences the sexuality development.
Similarly television, internet also exposes the adolescents to literature with sexuality content,
influencing their perception about sexuality (Zhang, 2016).
Adolescent sexual behavior
Adolescence is the age to explore and understand sexuality. Sexual curiosity in the
adolescence led to exposure to pornography, indulgence in sexual activities, and also
increases the vulnerability sexual abuse.
Reproductive health research center (RHRC) School of medicine Airlangga University
Surabaya (2006), reported the results of research on 1,098 students (18 years - 21 years)
from 5 universities in Surabaya as follows:
- Those who have sexual intercourse: male students as much as 16.3%, while female
students as much as 6.5%
- Age at first sexual intercourse, for men 35.6% done during junior high
(13 years - 15 years), while for women first sexual intercourse during high school
(16 years - 18 years).
- Sexual intercourse patterns, for men: 60% with boyfriends, 12.2% with prostitutes,
and 15.6% with close friends. As for women, 91.7% with his girlfriend, and
2.6% with close friends.
- Chlamydia trachomatis urine positive , in men (2.3%) higher than in women (2.1%).
It means that men who've had sexual intercourse before marriage, tend to have multiple sex
partners, including with the couples at high risk of sexual transmitted infection (STI). So that
his girlfriend increased the risk of sexual transmitted infection (RHRC, 2006).
Challenges Faced
Many critical biological, as well as psychological changes, occur during this phase for
which many adolescents are not prepared enough to cope with, which often puts them
under stress. Onset of menstruation, change in voice in boys, development of secondary
sexual characteristics, and psychological changes often perceived as challenges. Family and
society’s attitude, as well as a cultural influence on these changes, during puberty, plays a
major role in deciding the adolescent’s sexual behavior after puberty.
Understanding the sexuality development of adolescent is of the most important.
Understanding the factors influencing sexuality is also useful for intervention (Sujita Kumar,
2015).
References
Dennis Fortenberrry J. Puberty and Adolescent sexuality. Horm Behav. 2013 July ;
64 (2) : 280 – 287
Reproductive health research centre (RHRC) School of Medicine Airlangga University.

Sexual activity among students in Surabaya. 2006. Sponsored by WHO.
Russell D. Romeo. The Teenage Brain: The stress response and the adolescent brain.
Curr Dir Psychol Sci. 2013 April; 22 (2) : 140-145
Sujita Kumar Kar, Ananya Choudhury, and Abhishek Pratap Singh. Understanding normal
development of adolescent sexuality : A bumpy ride. J. Hum. Reprod Sci. 2015, Apr-Jun; 8
(2): 70-74
Zhang J. at all. Family conflict and lower morning cortisol in adolescents and adults:
modulation of puberty. 2016. Scientific reports, 1March, p: 1-9

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SEXUAL DEVELOPMENT

IN PUBERTY AND ADOLESCENCE

Adolescence is a phase of transition during which major developments of sexuality take

Key Words : Adolescence, puberty, development, sexuality

Development of sexuality in an adolescent

Reproductive health research centre (RHRC) School of Medicine Airlangga University.

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