Secondary sexual characteristics

The secondary sexual characteristics refers to the other body changes that occur during puberty, but that are not strictly linked to sexual maturity. These include breast development in females, changing voice pitch and beard growth in males, and growth of body hair in both sexes.

In 1990 Tanner identified 5 stages of pubertal development. These are used by doctors to estimate the developmental stage of the adolescent where there are concerns over the young person’s health within puberty.