Do Girls Get Hard

Do Girls Get Hard
Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD on February 07, 2007
Girls Encounter More Stressors and Respond More Strongly to Them, Becoming More Depressed
Feb. 7, 2007 -- Ever wonder why teenage girls can seem more stressed out and depressed than teenage boys? A new study sheds some light.
Teenage girls encounter more "stressors" in life, especially in their interpersonal relationships, than boys -- and they react more strongly to those pressures, accounting in part for their higher levels of depression, the study suggests.
"Girls are getting a double hit," says Benjamin L. Hankin, PhD, assistant professor of psychology at the University of South Carolina, Columbia, one of the study's researchers.
"They are experiencing more interpersonal stress, and when they experience more of the stress, they exhibit more depressive symptoms than boys do," he says.
For years, Hankin says, experts have known that by midpuberty -- age 13, or so -- more girls than boys experience depression .
But they have not been able to pinpoint why.
Other research has found that teenage girls report more stressors in life than do teenage boys, but researchers have disagreed on whether the girls react more strongly to stressors and become more depressed, Hankin says.
Hankins' study looked at 538 eighth and 10th-grade students, aged 13 to 18 (average age: 14.9), from 18 Chicago-area schools.
The students were asked to record their "worst event" of the day in their diaries every day for a week, at three different time points -- the study launch, and six and 12 months later.
The diary method is considered superior to research that asks students to recall stressors from the past, Hankin says; it tends to be more accurate.
Besides describing this "worst event," students said what made it so bad, and what they did in response.
"Worst events" included getting kicked out of school, failing a quiz, arguing with a parent, getting mad at a girlfriend or boyfriend, and other problems.
The researchers later evaluated how stressful the events were and classified them as interpersonal (involving interaction between the teen and another person -- such as family, peer, or romantic partner) or achievement (involving academics or athletic performance).
Hankin's team also looked at the boys' and girls' depressive symptoms and their self-reported use of alcohol.
The girls reported more interpersonal stressors, while the boys had more achievement stressors.
"In an average week, the girls experienced twice as many interpersonal stressors as the boys did," Hankin says.
While the boys averaged 0.50 interpersonal stressors a week, the girls averaged one -- about twice as many.
However, the boys experienced 0.24 achievement stressors each week, while the girls reported just 0.16.
The girls were more adversely affected, too, Hankin found. For the same stressor, the girls reacted with more depression than the boys, Hankin says.
Looking at interpersonal stressors alone and the teens' reactions to them "explains 30% of why the girls are more depressed than the boys," Hankin says.
Genders respond in different ways to stress, the study also found.
"If there is a romantic fight between a boy and a girl, on average, a girl will respond with more depression ," Hankin says. "A boy will go distract himself," Hankin says, perhaps playing basketball or doing some other activity.
No gender differences were found in the use of alcohol in response to stress.
The study sheds light on some of the pathways that lead girls to become more depressed, says Karen D. Rudolph, PhD, associate professor of psychology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, who has researched the same topic.
It shows that "girls are experiencing more stress in their lives and react more strongly," she says.
For parents of girls and boys entering puberty, Hankin has this advice: "Pay attention to what your child is experiencing at home and with relationships . Be available and supportive emotionally for your child."
Be aware, Rudolph adds, that "when things go wrong, girls may be interpreting it in a catastrophic way."
For example, an argument with a friend may be viewed as the end of a friendship. But parents can step in and suggest how to heal the relationship, she says.
Hankin's study is published in the January-February issue of Child Development .
He did the work while at the University of Illinois at Chicago with his University of Illinois co-researchers, Robin Mermelstein, PhD, and Linda Roesch, MA.
SOURCES: Benjamin L. Hankin, PhD, assistant professor of psychology,
University of South Carolina, Columbia. Hankin, B. Child
Development , January-February 2007, vol. 78, pp 279-295. Karen D. Rudolph,
PhD, associate professor of psychology, University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign.
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SOURCES:
Brain and Behavior: "Neuroanatomy and function of human sexual behavior: A neglected or unknown issue?."
Brown University B Well Health Promotion: "Orgasm."
Cleveland Clinic: "Sexual Response Cycle."
Clinical Anatomy: "Anatomy and physiology of the clitoris, vestibular bulbs, and labia minora with a review of the female orgasm and the prevention of female sexual dysfunction."
National Health Service: "What can cause orgasm problems in women?"
National Health Services Go: "Good sex tips."
Oregon Health & Sciences University Center for Women's Health: "The Benefits of a Healthy Sex Life."
Socioaffective Neuroscience & Psychology: "Determinants of female sexual orgasms," "The whole versus the sum of some of the parts: toward resolving the apparent controversy of clitoral versus vaginal orgasms."
University of California Berkeley Greater Good Science Center: "Why Sex Is So Good for Your Relationship."

What do men really want you to know about them? For better intimacy, learn these 18 secrets guys wish you Knew about sex, love, and marriage.
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Menopause is defined as when you haven’t had your periods for 12 consecutive months. You should accept the fact that it is normal to experience changes in sexual desire after menopause.
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What is vaginal discharge? Learn the signs of vaginal discharge and what to do if you experience it.
Sex is known to be a proven stressbuster that elevates your mood instantly, and yes, it is completely normal to have sex every day. There are phases in life when you have sex more frequently.
Relationships, sex, and love! Could it be that what motivates physical attraction in us may be all in our minds? Take the Sex & Love Quiz to challenge yourself on healthy human sexuality!
Male sexual dysfunction can be caused by physical or psychological problems. Common sexual problems in men include erectile dysfunction (impotence or ED), premature ejaculation, and loss of libido. Treatment for sexual dysfunction in men may involve medication, hormone therapy, psychological therapy, and the use of mechanical aids.
Sexual dysfunction refers to a problem that arises during any phase of the sexual response cycle, preventing an individual or couple from experiencing sexual satisfaction. Physical, medical, and psychological conditions may affect sexual functioning, resulting in inhibited sexual desire, inability to become aroused, lack of orgasm, and painful intercourse. Treating the underlying physical and psychological problems usually resolves most female sexual problems.
The term sex addiction describes the behavior of someone who has an unusually strong sex drive or sexual obsession. Sex and thoughts of sex dominate a sex addict's thinking, making it difficult to work or engage in healthy personal relationships. Sex addicts may engage in exhibitionism, voyeurism, prostitution, compulsive masturbation, or cybersex. Treatment for sex addiction includes individual counseling, marital and/or family therapy, support groups, 12-step recovery programs, and in some cases, medications.
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Some simple steps after sex can keep you and your partner clean and healthy. Learn more from this WebMD slideshow.
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There are four phases to the sexual response for men and women. Couple do not usually reach each phase at the same time, and they are dependant from individual to individual. The four phases of the sexual response cycle include phase 1, excitement; phase 2, plateau; phase 3 orgasm; and phase 4 resolution.
While engaging in sex or during masturbation, your body undergoes physical and emotional changes known as the sexual response cycle. You need to know the body’s response toward each phase of the cycle to enhance the relationship or identify the cause of sexual dysfunction.

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sexual health center / sexual health a-z list / do men or women feel more pleasure during sex center / do men or women feel more pleasure during sex article

Everyone feels pleasure differently during sex. For some people, sex and pleasure is highly physical, and an orgasm is the ultimate delight. Other people don’t need an orgasm to enjoy sex or for sex to feel good. Orgasms can also feel differently each time. Some can build up slowly and be more intense, while others are short, quick, bursts of pleasure.
Both men and women can feel great pleasure during sex. The penis and the vagina each have tissue rich with nerve endings, becoming swollen with blood and highly sensitive during arousal and orgasm. Women are more likely to have problems reaching an orgasm, though, for a variety of reasons.
While sex involves your genitals, pleasure actually comes from brain chemicals and heightened senses. Different stages of sex cause physical changes that activate brain chemicals and cause intense sensations.
Both men and women go through these phases, but not necessarily in the same order.
The first stage of sex and pleasure is desire, also known as your libido. This is your natural urge and instinct to have sex, which can be influenced by your mood, thoughts, and hormones. Your body physically changes, which includes:
During arousal, your physical changes become more intense as you get excited. Your senses are heightened, and your muscles tighten in rhythm as you work toward orgasm. You may experience the following:
The orgasm is the peak of your sex cycle. It happens when your muscles relax after a series of contractions. It usually only lasts a few seconds, but can be longer for some people and is the most intense period of pleasure. You’ll have:
Your body starts to return to normal during this phase. Endorphins flood your blood, and you feel happy, warm, and sometimes sleepy. Some women are still sensitive in this phase and can be stimulated into more orgasms and pleasure, but men usually need some time.
Not everyone reaches orgasm every time, and orgasm isn’t just a physical sense of pleasure. As your brain releases endorphins, you get a natural high that triggers a mental state of bliss.
Arousal for men often starts with an erection and is a reflexive response to thoughts, fantasies, and physical stimulation. Pleasure can be both physical and emotional for men. Sex builds closeness and affection with your partner, which adds to the pleasure and satisfaction of sex.
Men also get pleasure from a partner’s pleasure during sex. Studies show men who have sex with women often feel responsible for her pleasure or for the lack of an orgasm. Men tend to feel guilty if there’s no orgasm, which can lower self-esteem and affect overall pleasure during sex.
Only about 50% of women regularly have orgasms during sex, compared to 90% or more of men. Lots of women are able to reach orgasm during masturbation but find the orgasms better and more satisfying when stemming from penetrative sex with a partner.
It’s sometimes said that orgasms aren’t important to all women, but studies show that women who don’t have them find their sex life unsatisfying. This suggests that pleasure does matter to women.
So, why do women have so much trouble reaching pleasure during sex? The most common cause is not enough stimulation, but it can also happen because of stress , worry, hormonal changes, and other problems.
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Healthy Children > Ages & Stages > Gradeschool > Puberty > Physical Development in Girls: What to Expect During Puberty

The information contained on this Web site should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your pediatrician. There may be variations in treatment that your pediatrician may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances.

By: Brittany Allen, MD, FAAP & Katy Miller, MD, FAAP
Puberty often begins earlier than parents think―especially in girls.* You can help your daughter navigate this time by learning about these changes and starting conversations about them early.

Here's an overview of the major physical changes girls can expect as they go through puberty:
Girls usually begin
puberty between the ages of 8 and 13 years old. The earliest sign of puberty in most girls is the development of breast "buds," nickel-sized bumps under the nipple. It is not unusual for breast growth to start on one side before the other. It's also common for breast buds to be somewhat tender or sore. Uneven breast growth and soreness are both totally normal and usually improve with time.
Coarser hair will begin to grow in the genital area, under the arms, and on the legs. In some girls (about 15%), pubic hair may be the first sign of puberty―showing up before breast budding starts.
Around the time they reach middle school, many girls begin to show interest in shaving their legs and armpits. This is a personal choice; there is no medical reason to shave armpit or leg hair. Before giving them a razor, show them how to use it properly and avoid skin irritation and cuts, which can become infected. Some tips:

Wet the skin & use lotion or gel. Shaving dry skin can scratch and irritate it. It may be easiest to shave in the shower or bathtub when the skin is already wet. Shaving gel, lotion, or cream acts as a buffer on the skin and can help avoid cuts.

Use light pressure. Pressing too hard on the razor could shave off some of the skin. Use extra care around the knees and ankles to avoid nicking the skin.

Replace the razor or its blade often . A dull blade is more likely to tug, scrape and irritate the skin.

Don't share razors . Sharing a razor can spread bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus and cause skin infections.

Electric razors . Some electric razors are designed specifically for girls. These may be less likely to cut the skin, although they can still cause irritation.
Some girls experience a small to moderate amount of clear or white vaginal discharge that starts about 6-12 months before their first period. This is a normal response to growing amounts of the
hormone estrogen in the body.
While timelines can vary, most girls get their first
period within 2 – 3 years after the development of breast buds. The average age for girls to get their first period in the United States is around age 12. It's important to emphasize that periods are a normal part of growing up. Young girls should know that it's okay to talk about periods and ask questions about them. Some young people may have anxiety about how to handle their first period, given that it can happen unexpectedly. Providing supplies (pads, tampons, and pantiliners) for your child's locker or backpack and reviewing resources at school, including the school nurse, can help alleviate this worry.
While some girls will have bright red blood with their first period, other girls may only have spotting with red-brown discharge―both are normal! While some people will have periods once a month, periods may be irregular in the first few years as the
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