When does puberty begin?
One question that is occupying scientists is: Is puberty really starting earlier and earlier?
A good six years ago, scientists led by developmental psychologist Konrad Weller at the Institute for Applied Sexual Science at Merseburg University of Applied Sciences in Germany presented the fourth part of a study on the subject, which is unique and - as Weller, now an emeritus professor, emphasises - is still valid, as no serious changes can be expected in such a short space of time. The special thing about it is that the study design allows the sexologists to make historical comparisons.
«The most striking thing is the surge that boys have made,» says Weller. Whereas in 1990 only 11 per cent had their first ejaculation before their 13th birthday, the figure is now 32 per cent. Around 46 per cent of girls have their first period at the age of 12, compared to 39 per cent in 1990. «The so-called gender gap, i.e. the difference in the stage of development between girls and boys, has shrunk in our study from one year in 1990 to half a year now,» explains Weller. According to the study, girls have their first period on average at the age of 13, while boys have their first ejaculation six months later.
If you look at puberty in a historical context, its onset has indeed been pushed forward considerably. In the 19th century, «manhood» - the meaning of the Latin word puberty - still began for many girls at the age of 15 or 16, and only then did they have their period. Scientists agree that better nutrition and medical care, especially in the second half of the 20th century, are mainly responsible for the fact that sexual maturity today begins two to three years earlier overall. Fat children, for example, often go through puberty earlier than children of normal weight. This is due to the hormone leptin, which is produced by fat cells. It signals to the brain: there are enough fat reserves, reproduction can begin.
