Puberty and adolescent sexuality.

Teenagers undergo biological, cognitive, and social changes. Each of these changes interacts with the other developmental parameters and may affect outcomes in late adolescence and adulthood. Sequence, tempo, and timing of puberty all affect when changes in hormones, feelings, and behavior will emerge in children. The pediatrician should recognize stages of pubertal development and be able to provide counseling and information to patients and parents. Some suggested resources are listed in the Sidebar.