A period piece.

I haven't gotten my period for months. Is this unusual? Is something wrong?

Periods should be renamed "parentheses," because when you first start getting it, you never know when it's going to come along. (A period is always at the end of a sentence, but parentheses are harder to predict.) Between ages 12 and 17, your hormones send signals to wake up your ovaries. The ovaries release the egg. The egg travels to the uterus. The uterine lining builds up just in case of a pregnancy. When there's no pregnancy, your body sheds the lining. That's your period. But if you've just recently started getting a period, the hormones don't always pump out on schedule. "You can go three to four months with no period, be regular for six months, then skip a month, and then have one every few weeks," explains Dr. Larrian Gillespie, gynecologist and author of You're Not Crazy, It's Your Hormones. By 18, earlier for some, your cycle will become more regular. But periods are just plain unpredictable during puberty. So chances are good that you don't need to worry!

I have major bikini-line anxiety. How do I shave down there? Should I shave all the hair or just some of it? I need help, fast!

True, many girls don't dig having straggly hairs hanging out of bikini bottoms, but no one wants bright red bikini-line bumps. To avoid both, try these tips from Dr. Andrea Cambio, a New York dermatologist: First, use small scissors to trim the hairs that hang out of your bikini. Next, take a warm shower or bath for at least 10 minutes to soften your skin. Using a new razor and fragrance-free shaving gel, shave downward in the direction of the hair. That last part is key, hence the italics. If you shave upward, against the hair, you'll get ingrowns (ugly) and razor burn (ouch). After shaving, don't put panties on right away. Wear boxers for a few hours to avoid chafing. Even if you are super careful, you might still wind up with itchiness or a pimple-like sore. Don't touch! Instead, dab with a cotton ball dipped in milk, suggests Susie Galvez, esthetician and owner of Face Works Day Spa in Richmond, Va. The hair follicles will heal in a few days, and then you can do it all over again. (Yes, fun, fun!)

I usually shower and swim with my contact lenses in. Is this safe?

Bathing with contacts is totally safe, unless you get soap in your eyes. It won't cause lasting damage, but it hurts like beck. Swimming is another matter, explains Stan Harper, optician and CEO of Adventure in Colors contact lens company. Chemicals like chlorine can get into your contacts and dry out peepers. The main problem is redness and irritation. And just cleaning your contacts won't flush out all the chemicals. Blind as a big-eared bat and need your contacts to see while swimming? If that's the case, wear goggles to keep the water away from your eyes. Or try daily-wear lenses that you can throw away after a day of swimming.

Groovy giveaway

It's the little things that count....

It's small enough to fit in the palm of it could offset some BIG embarrassment. The Saves the Day emergency kit packs five essentials--pad, tampon, Advil, undies and towelette--into an itsy-bitsy box you can toss into your beach tote. Get 'em for $5 each at savesthedaykit.com (consider it an insurance investment). We have 25 freebies packed in adorable bags. Send your name and address to Saves the Day, GL, 4517 Harford Road, Baltimore, MD 21214, by July 15. Now if they could just throw in a chocolate bar ...

Stumper of your own: E-mail it to [e-mail], or write to Body Q&A, Girls' Life, 4517 Harford Road, Baltimore, MD 21214.