Girls have been developing breast buds and getting pubic hair as early as seven or eight years old, which, according to experts, this trend represents "a new norm." » 11/01/13 12:20pm 11/01/13 12:20pm

It’ll come as no shock you to learn that boys and girls in these modern-day United States, fed on country-fried steroidal chicken breasts and good ol’ American colas, have begun to hit puberty at earlier ages than they ever have before. This might actually be a good thing in some respects, since early adolescence may… » 8/18/13 4:00pm 8/18/13 4:00pm

A head-scratching new study published Saturday in the Journal of Pediatrics suggests that young men in the United States are budding earlier, much like their female counterparts, which has largely frustrated researchers who always supposed that estrogen-like chemicals in the environment were hastening puberty in… » 10/21/12 3:30pm 10/21/12 3:30pm

Screenwriter Andrea Portes, whose novel Hick has been made into a feature film starring Chloe Grace Moretz, recalls that after one preview screening a middle-aged male viewer commented, "I can see making a coming-of-age story about a boy. But when it's a girl... it's just creepy." » 5/11/12 5:20pm 5/11/12 5:20pm

Good grief — we thought we had it bad with all of that uphill-bothways walking and Are You There God? It's Me Margaret-ing, but today's girls definitely have it rougher. In addition to online bullying and One Direction, girls are now dealing with entering puberty at earlier and earlier ages, with some even showings… » 4/02/12 12:00pm 4/02/12 12:00pm

Procter & Gamble says its website BeingGirl is meant to give young women important advice about puberty and their bodies. But some groups say it's actually a ruse to sell products. » 8/23/11 10:15am 8/23/11 10:15am

Studies have shown that girls are reaching puberty younger and younger, to the point that Kotex now has a line of maxi pads intended for 8-year-olds. There hasn't been as much discussion of when boys start puberty, perhaps because it doesn't require an awkward trip to buy new undergarments, and is thus less noticeable… » 8/18/11 11:23pm 8/18/11 11:23pm

A study found girls from higher-income households, and particularly African-Americans, are likely to develop breasts and pubic hair earlier if they don't live with their biological father. The presence of other adult males in the home doesn't change the results. » 9/17/10 2:06pm 9/17/10 2:06pm

Early onset of puberty in girls has been linked to several factors, all of which are rather contentious. According to certain studies, overweight girls — and Black and Hispanic girls — are more likely to develop early than white girls. » 8/09/10 1:18pm 8/09/10 1:18pm

• 22-year-old University of Virginia student and lacrosse player Yeardley Love was found dead in her dorm room at 2:15 a.m. on Monday. Hours later, police arrested fellow player and Love's ex-boyfriend George Huguely. » 5/04/10 5:40pm 5/04/10 5:40pm

When I was little I was obsessed with sex. I hope you find this precious and not creepy. » 5/04/10 2:20pm 5/04/10 2:20pm

Puberty sucks for everyone, but experts and teens agree — it sucks more if you go through it early or late. And apparently, obesity can cause both. » 2/11/10 5:00pm 2/11/10 5:00pm

[Seoul, May 18. Image via Getty] » 5/18/09 5:10pm 5/18/09 5:10pm

While writing an advice book for teens, Kaz Cooke came up with some good advice for their parents, like that telling an 11-year-old who gets her first period "you're a woman now" is just creepy. » 5/14/09 2:00pm 5/14/09 2:00pm

Puberty is hitting girls at earlier ages around the world: According to a recent study, the average age a European girl begins to developing breasts is now 9.86, versus 10.88 in the 1990s. [NYT] » 5/04/09 7:20pm 5/04/09 7:20pm

Friends, I'd like to talk to you about something, and this is not easy, especially for a woman who has never been pregnant: Stretchmarks. » 4/10/09 3:40pm 4/10/09 3:40pm