Puberty typically begins for girls in which age range?

• A. Approximately 9–13 years
• B. Approximately 7–9 years
• C. Approximately 13–15 years
• D. Approximately 11–17 years

Answer: (A)

Puberty in girls usually begins with thelarche, the first sign being breast development, driven by rising estrogen as the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis activates. This initiation most commonly occurs between about 9 and 13 years old. While some girls may start slightly earlier or later, 9–13 captures the typical window. Menarche tends to follow about 1–2 years after breast development, around ages 11–15, but the onset of puberty itself is best placed in the 9–13 range. The other ranges describe prepubertal years or later onset, so they don’t fit as well.