It is generally agreed that sex is useful when getting pregnant, but is it necessary? Professors Amy Herring, and Carolyn Halpern from the University of North Carolina explain how they found virgin births in the US for their Christmas BMJ paper.

Also Gareth Jones, emeritus professor of anaesthesia at Cambridge University, recalls his early life in the City Lodge Hospital – formerly Cardiff Union Workhouse

Finally, does being right always make you happy? Bruce Aroll, professor of primary care at the University of Auckland wanted to know, and so designed a pilot study.See also:Like a virgin (mother): analysis of data from a longitudinal, US population representative sample survey (http://www.bmj.com/content/347/bmj.f7102)

Being right or being happy: pilot study (http://www.bmj.com/content/347/bmj.f7398)

Growing up over the shop (http://www.bmj.com/content/347/bmj.f6922)