Help with pregnancy: One in six couples do not conceive on their own and seek help with pregnancy, according to the National Infertility Support and Information Group.
Child-focused celebrations such as Christmas can make life more difficult for couples undergoing fertility treatments, it says. The group's helpline is open until 9 p.m. each day. You can call it on 1890-647444. You can also visit its website, www.infertilityireland.ie.
Be food safe this Christmas
To avoid unnecessary illness over Christmas, here are a few tips from the Food Safety Promotion Board. Don't leave leftover food at room temperature for more than two hours. Wash your hands between preparing raw and cooked food. Cook your turkey thoroughly - until the juices run clear, not pink. And, finally, don't overload your fridge: use freezer boxes for drinks other than milk and fresh juices.
Fighting superbugs
Plants and fungi growing in India, China and Australia could help fight the growing threat of antibiotic-resistant superbugs, according to a University of Ulster researcher. Prof Franklin Smyth, who has just returned from a visit to the University of the Sunshine Coast, in the Australian state of Queensland, is involved in researching plants and fungi that Aborigines use to treat bacterial infections.
Strong bones
If you've wondered why exercise strengthens the skeleton, scientists at Johns Hopkins University, in Baltimore, may have come up with the answer. They found that mesenchymal stem cells, which can create muscle, bone, cartilage or fat, are more likely to produce bone if they are stretched. If they are squeezed they produce fat, according to Christopher Chen, the team's leader, who says the results may explain why walking and jogging make the bones stronger.
Breast cancer and pregnancy
New research suggests that survivors of breast cancer need not worry about getting pregnant. In the past they have been told that having a baby could increase their risk of recurrence, as pregnancy raises the levels of hormones that affect the disease. The study found no link between the two.