What is the stage in life when an individual becomes sexually mature called?

The stage in life when an individual becomes sexually mature is known as puberty. This is a critical developmental period characterized by various physical, hormonal, and emotional changes that lead to the development of secondary sexual characteristics. During puberty, individuals experience growth spurts, the development of reproductive organs, and changes in body composition, marking the transition from childhood to sexual maturity.

While adolescence also encompasses the period of psychological and social development that follows puberty, it is not limited to just the development of sexual maturity; adolescence includes a wider range of experiences and changes that occur up until the late teens or early twenties. Infancy refers to the early developmental stage up to about two years old, during which sexual maturity is not applicable. Adulthood signifies a stage beyond puberty where individuals are fully mature and capable of reproduction, but it is not specifically the stage of becoming sexually mature itself.