Sexual differentiation
When you are born, the parts of your body that make you a boy or a girl are not magically there. Your body needs to make them! Sexual differentiation is the process by which your body develops these parts so you become a boy or a girl.
When you are in your mommy’s tummy, your body starts very small and simple. At first, your little body doesn’t know whether you’ll be a boy or a girl, so it starts making a basic set of body parts that can become either male or female.
As time goes by, your body starts to get signals from special chemicals called hormones. These hormones act like little messengers and tell your body what parts to make and how to make them.
If you are going to be a girl, your body will make certain hormones that tell your body to develop a uterus, a vagina, and ovaries (these are places where eggs grow). Your body will also make hormones that make your breasts grow and get ready to make milk for your future babies.
If you are going to be a boy, your body will also make special hormones that tell your body to develop differently. Your body will grow a penis and testicles (these are places where sperm grow). Your body will also grow certain hormones that make your voice deeper and your body hairier.
As you grow up, these parts will keep developing and changing depending on the hormones in your body. That’s why boys and girls look and act different from each other!
When you are in your mommy’s tummy, your body starts very small and simple. At first, your little body doesn’t know whether you’ll be a boy or a girl, so it starts making a basic set of body parts that can become either male or female.
As time goes by, your body starts to get signals from special chemicals called hormones. These hormones act like little messengers and tell your body what parts to make and how to make them.
If you are going to be a girl, your body will make certain hormones that tell your body to develop a uterus, a vagina, and ovaries (these are places where eggs grow). Your body will also make hormones that make your breasts grow and get ready to make milk for your future babies.
If you are going to be a boy, your body will also make special hormones that tell your body to develop differently. Your body will grow a penis and testicles (these are places where sperm grow). Your body will also grow certain hormones that make your voice deeper and your body hairier.
As you grow up, these parts will keep developing and changing depending on the hormones in your body. That’s why boys and girls look and act different from each other!