The term “second puberty” has become a popular phenomenon recently; the term has been used to describe the changes in the body that happen after puberty and before menopause. A lot of women are using the term to describe how their bodies look different from their late teenage years to their mid-twenties. However, the truth is there is no second puberty. Our bodies are constantly changing and heavily affected by our hormones. In your twenties, you are at your most fertile and have the highest levels of hormones like oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone. These hormones create lots of emotional and physical changes in the body and when our levels of hormones start to decrease in our 30s and 40s, this also creates lots of emotional and physical changes.
Changes in body shape:
Many women experience changes in their pelvic area making them appear more curvy rather than their more slender teenage shape. This is due to hormonal fluctuations when fertility is highest, making the pelvic area widen (sometimes up to the age of 30). As your fertility decreases, your pelvic area may get smaller, especially after the age of 40. Breast size and shape will also fluctuate throughout your life and are influenced by exercise, age and weight. Stretch marks are common in women in their 20s as well; make sure you’re drinking plenty of water to support skin health and elasticity. In our 30s and 40s, metabolism reduces which may affect weight and body shape.
Changes in skin:
Hormones also play a part in many women experiencing adult acne. In fact, the American Academy of Dermatology discovered that between the ages of 21-26, around 45% of women struggle with adult acne [1]. Other factors that could trigger acne are hormonal birth control, smoking, stress, menstruation, alcohol and poor eating habits. In our 30s and 40s, we’ll start to notice wrinkles which is perfectly normal and nothing to worry about.
Changes in menstrual cycle:
Our menstrual cycles should be regular in our twenties, although it might become irregular during times of stress or emotional events. It’s not until around our 40s that we’ll experience perimenopause and our menstrual cycle will start to become irregular and either lighter or heavier. You may also experience vaginal dryness during perimenopause.
Although “second puberty” isn’t real. Our bodies do go through lots of changes throughout our lives. If you’re experiencing any of these changes, you’re completely normal, but if you’re concerned, speak to your healthcare provider. To help support your body, make sure to have a healthy balanced diet, drink plenty of water, get around 8 hours of sleep a night and include at least 30 minutes of exercise into your day.
1. https://flo.health/menstrual-cycle/health/what-is-second-puberty