Body q&a.

I sleepwalk almost every night. I never remember it, but my mom tells me about it. Sometimes, I do weird things or even fall. How can I stop?

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Rest assured, sleepwalking is common--17 percent of kids! You'll likely outgrow it, and there's usually no harm. "Often, sleepwalkers do things like turning on a light, getting dressed or using the bathroom," says Dr. Mary S. Esther, medical director, Sleep Center at SouthPark, Charlotte, N.C. Be sure your house is safe for your nighttime strolls. But since you fall? "If the sleepwalker could be injured, your doctor can refer you to a sleep specialist," says Dr. Esther. "Sometimes medications are used to decrease the number of events or their severity. Also, sleepwalking occurs most often if you are sleep-deprived." So talk to your mom about seeing a doc, and meantime, don't let it keep you up at night!

I have a very heavy menstrual flow and don't know how to control it. My pads feel soggy after only 15 minutes. Can I prevent this?

It's tough to go with the flow when you see all that blood. Most girls lose less than three ounces each cycle, says Dr. Diane Merritt, director, pediatric and adolescent gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Mo. "The average patient will soak a pad in two to three hours on her heaviest day," she says. More than that could be too much blood. So when should you head to the doc? Dr. Merritt says to ask yourself these questions: 1) Are you bleeding through more than one pad or tampon an hour? 2) Are you bleeding longer than 10 days? 3) Are your periods less than 20 days apart? If the answer to any of these is "yes," see a gyno.

Peeing when you laugh is no joke. Dr. Larrian Gillespie, urologist, Beverly Hills, Calif., says, "Giggle incontinence is often seen in girls as they develop. Once hormone levels become stabilized, this problem usually stops." First, nix caffeine, which can be tough for the bladder to hold. Next, do Kegel exercises by contracting the pelvic floor muscles (the ones you use to stop peeing midstream). Dr. Gillespie sags a low-dose decongestant can stimulate receptors in the bladder, but check with your doc before taking any meds. If the prob keeps you from cracking up, it's worth a visit to a urologist.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

I have a habit of pulling out strands of my hair. I pull out a lot! My mom yells at me, but I can't stop. Help!

It has a name--trichotillomania. And whether you yank hair from the scalp, brows or pubic area, it's twice as common in girls as guys. You can't control this by yourself. Some docs think it may be linked to obsessive compulsive disorders. Talk to your mom about seeing a therapist, who can teach you how to curb the urge. And visit trich.org for more info.

Fact or Fiction?

Women are supposed to get checked for breast cancer routinely, but can girls get it? Teens rarely get breast cancer. Almost never. That's why docs don't recommend routine mammograms--an X-ray to look inside the breast--until women are between 35 and 40 (those with a family history of breast cancer are urged to go earlier). Still, learn to do a breast self-examination so you know what is normal for your breasts and can detect any changes. Most lumps teens find are totally normal, but it's worth your peace of mind to get them checked out.

Wondering what's up with your bod? Our experts have the answers! Log on now to girlslife.com for accurate, confidential info you can trust.