What is the term for the period during which secondary sexual characteristics develop?

The term for the period during which secondary sexual characteristics develop is puberty. This stage of development usually occurs during early to mid-teen years and encompasses a series of biological changes that lead to sexual maturity. During puberty, individuals experience physical transformations such as the development of breasts in females, the deepening of the voice in males, and changes in body composition and hair distribution for both genders.

Puberty is specifically marked by the release of hormones that trigger these changes, distinguishing it from adolescence, which refers to the broader psychological and social transition during this phase of human development. Menstruation pertains specifically to the cyclical shedding of the uterine lining in females and is a specific event within the broader context of puberty, not a defining characteristic of the entire developmental stage. Gestation, on the other hand, refers to the period of development of a fetus in the womb, which is unrelated to the changes seen during puberty.