Taking Care of Your Body: Answers for Girls With Autism
Medically reviewed by: Persephone Jones, MD, MPH
Why Do I Need to Take Care of My Body?
Learning how to take care of your body is part of growing up. As you get older, your body will change as you go from being a girl to a woman. This is called puberty. During puberty, you will get:
- oily skin and hair
- hair that grows under your arms, on your legs, and in your private area (the part of your body that is covered by underwear)
- sweat that smells stinky, especially under your arms
- breasts
- your period, also called menstruation. This is when blood comes out of your vagina, but you are not sick or hurt.
These changes will happen slowly. You will have to learn new routines to keep yourself clean and healthy.