Sexual Maturity

Sexual Maturity. Age; at which an animal or person becomes mature in a sexual relation, bears the name of the period of sexual maturity (pubertas); with its onset in the organism a series of characteristic changes occurs: the sex glands begin to secrete specific products (sperm, testicles), and also through internal secretion influence the formation of secondary sexual characteristics corresponding to one or the other sex. The rate of onset of S. m. in various animals varies greatly, being partly dependent on the total lifespan of the individual. In many lower animals, e.g. in rotifers, daphnia, etc., S. m. occurs already several days after the beginning of egg development; in small birds - at the end of the first year of life, in rats - at the third month, in elephants - at the 16-20th year. In some animals, e.g. vertebrates, S. m. sets in gradually, in others, for example in insects, the beginning of S. m. is determined by the end of metamorphosis, namely by the onset of the adult insect stage (imago). It is interesting that sometimes in insects the state of S. m. is very short-lived, constituting only a negligible part of the total lifespan (see Insects). In men with the period of S. m. hair grows on the pubis and face, the larynx increases in the sagittal direction and the voice becomes lower; in women with the growth of hair on the pubis the mammary glands develop, the pelvis widens and acquires a typical shape. To this same category of phenomena belongs the age-related change in coloration in many birds. In this case the male before the onset of S. m. has a more modest coloration, resembling the coloration of the female, and only later acquires brighter plumage, as e.g. the bullfinch (Pyrrhula) and others. The time of onset of S. m. is subject to fluctuations depending on climate, race and upbringing. In persons of male sex S. m. usually establishes itself between 14 and 16 years, i.e. somewhat later (approximately by a year) than in women, and the ability to coitus appears even earlier, on which indicate cases of coitus of boys 10-12 years old, as well as the frequency of masturbation at this age. When determining productive capacity it is necessary to pay attention also to the general physical development. A case of pregnancy from a 14-year-old boy is known (Hoffmann). Specifically S. m. can be established by examining the ejected semen or suspicious spots in this respect for the presence of spermatozoa; some significance also have nocturnal pollutions. S. m. in women occurs in our climate after 13-14 years and is characterized, besides ovulation, by the appearance of monthly purgations; in the south, among the urban population, menstruation comes earlier. In individual cases they can occur even at the 1-5th year of life (usually in such cases we are dealing with a pathological phenomenon of endocrine origin - see Pubertas praecox). In exceptional cases also in animals premature onset of S. m. is observed (on S. m. in the larval age - see Neoteny). Pregnancy can be observed in 8-12-year-old girls. The possibility of early conception is confirmed by the research of Slavyansky and Waldeyer. It is important also to note that conception can occur before the appearance of monthly purgations, e.g. in chlorotic and others. The ability to perform the sexual act depends on the spatially sufficient development of the female sexual parts, which takes place after the 10th year of life. Marital majority, i.e. the time when marriage is permitted, is determined differently by the legislation of various states, as follows: Australia . . . 14 years for persons of both sexes Germany . . . 18 » for men, 14 years for women Belgium .... 18 » » » 15 » » » Spain .... 14 » » » 12 » » » France .... 18 » » » 15 » » » Greece ..... 14 » » » 12 » » » Italy ..... 18 » » » 15 » » » In pre-revolutionary Russia according to Greco-Roman laws, which entered the 'Kormchaya book', the marriage age was established for men 14-15 years, for women - 12-13 years. Considerably later, namely in 1830, by imperial decree it was forbidden to marry men before 18 years and women before 16 years. At present time in the RSFSR the marriage age for persons of both sexes is 18 years (Code on Marriage, Family and Guardianship, approved 10/XI 1926).