In Vitro Fertilization and Your Options of Having a Baby

Health & Fitness

In Vitro Fertilization is a way to overcome barriers to traditional conception ... photo by CC user Ekem on wikimedia commons

Has having a baby been on your mind for some time now?

Unfortunately, many women (and couples) wanting to bring a new life into the world have struggled with this challenge.

One option on the table to conceive a child is in vitro fertilization (IVF), something that countless women and their mates have turned to over the years.

Whether or not IVF is in your current or future plans revolves around your ability to become pregnant with such a procedure, not to mention the expenses involved with in vitro fertilization.

Is IVF Right for You?

Start with taking a look at your current life, what your medical history (now and in the past) is, and what your financial outlook is.

In looking at how you are currently living, is now the right time to try to become pregnant? As millions of women can tell you, the timing has to be as right as possible in order to be able to successfully have a newborn.

In the event you have had trouble conceiving a child in the past or even just recently, will a fertility center be your best option to make your dream happen?

Depending on your location, you could go with a fertility specialist in Utah or another part of the country.

Take a look at the center’s history and of course its success rate at conceiving children.

Does the center have a solid past and present or has it had some issues when it comes to in vitro fertilization? Do other women and couples recommend the specific center you are considering or do they have some not so kind opinions of it? Finally, is the center you are looking at nearby so that you will have ease of travel or are they located a long distance from where you reside?

Another important component of IVF is what it will cost you (as an individual or as a couple) to follow through with the procedure.

The cost of fertility treatments typically vary from person to person/couple to couple. On average, one can expect to pay somewhere in the area of between $12,000 and $14,000 for the entire procedure, though all cases are usually different depending on the individual’s needs.

One option you should certainly investigate is will your insurance provider cover some or all of the costs associated with IVF? In many cases, the health insurer will not offer coverage for the entire process, but it may compensate for diagnostic testing needed to get the process rolling.

 

Success Rates Truly Do Matter

Also take the time to look into a center’s success rate with in vitro fertilization.

Do numbers back up its claims to be the best choice for you wanting to conceive a baby? Has the center not delivered on its promises at times and actually left women and couples disappointed in their ability to conceive a child?

Patient testimonials (oftentimes found on a center’s website) are a great look into whether or not this might be the fertility center for you. While all patient comments should always be taken with a slight grain of salt, they can be very beneficial to you in making your mind up.

Just as many consumers shop online these days for their lifestyle requirements, you can also use the Internet to learn a wealth of information about IVF. Doing a Google search of your center or centers of interest will help you in finding what facility best suits your needs.

Another key component in the mix is will your center of choice offer any refunds if you ultimately are not able to become pregnant? Refund programs are available with a number of centers that is of course assuming you meet the necessary criteria to obtain one.

One last item to keep in mind is the support you want and quite frankly need from friends and family during the IVF process.

Turn to those you might know who have opted for in vitro fertilization, getting their viewpoints on the success or lack thereof from it.

While patient testimonials might leave you a little skeptical at times, hearing from those you know and trust should give you more piece of mind, helping you in your ultimate goal of becoming a mother.

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Is a Breast Augmentation Procedure on Your 2016 Schedule?

Fashion

Does a Breast Augmentation Procedure make sense for you? ... photo by CC user 27735730@N00 on Flickr

Deciding on whether or not to move forward with breast augmentation can be a tricky decision for millions of women.

On the one hand, countless women see such a procedure as helping them restore some of their outer beauty, along with even improving their self-esteem to a degree. On the other hand, opting for breast augmentation can feel a little overwhelming (even risky to some women), not to mention the financial costs that come with it.

So, where does that leave you if you’ve been contemplating having breast augmentation in the near future or later down the road?

Know the Facts Before Making the Decision

To start with, women across the country should make sure they gather as much information as possible about a Utah breast augmentation or wherever they might reside.

Unlike some other surgeries which are relatively quick and easy, breast augmentation is more involved, though millions of women do it on a regular basis.

Just like you would want all the facts (positives and any potential negative ones) on lap band surgery, knee or hip replacement surgery, even the aforementioned breast surgery, look at the following questions:

  • How do I stand to better myself by having breast augmentation surgery?
  • What are the potential medical risks from such a procedure, both now and down the road?
  • Is this something that I can afford right now (check to make sure your chosen surgeon has no hidden costs) or should I spend the money elsewhere?
  • How much time will I need to recover from the procedure and are there any long-term ill effects?
  • Can I expect to notice a difference in the shape of my breasts soon after the procedure or will this take a number of months?
  • Will this be a one-and-done procedure? Can I expect to go back for more than one breast surgery procedure during the remainder of my life?

Lifestyle Changes

Once you have the surgery, what potential lifestyle changes can you expect?

First, look at the possibility of becoming pregnant down the road after a breast augmentation.

It isn’t uncommon for many women to wonder how their bodies will change with one or more pregnancies in their near or distant future.

If you’ve had breast implants and decide to become pregnant not too far in the future, will the shape of your breasts change due to carrying and delivering a baby?

According to various medical experts, most women can expect their “new” breasts to stay relatively the same shape (they will in most cases though enlarge as normal) during a pregnancy. If a child is in your near future plans, it is typically thought of as best to wait until after childbirth to have a breast augmentation procedure.

Another area where lifestyle changes take effect with breast implants is when it comes to relationships.

It is not unheard of for a boyfriend or husband to pay for breast implants for his significant other, with parents sometimes even doing it for their daughters.

On the first option, the subject of breast augmentation surgery being discussed by couples is certainly not a surprise. While some men may push their wife or girlfriend towards such a procedure, the woman is ultimately the one who must decide if it is best for her physical and emotional well-being.

While having the procedure can certainly change a relationship to a degree, both parties need to be on the same page as to why the surgery is being considered and how it will impact the woman.

When it comes to parents wanting to fund a daughter’s breast implant surgery, a couple of factors come into play. They are:

  • Do it for the right reasons – When a parent or parents opt to buy their daughter breast implants, it must be done for the right reasons. With more female teens getting the procedure these days, keep in mind that young women in that age range have a lot to deal with already (both physically and emotionally). Giving breast implants as a graduation or birthday gift etc. must be in the best interests of young women, not because older adults think their daughter or loved one will look better with them;
  • Explain the procedure – While countless breast implant procedures are done on a daily basis nationwide, it is important that both parents and their daughters understand all surgeries come with some risks. Make sure all risk are clearly explained, along with noting that a young woman’s life will likely change with such surgery on a number of fronts. If there are any hesitations for either parent or teen, take more time to think the procedure through.

 

Whether an adult woman or a teen looking at breast augmentation, get the facts and find a surgeon who you can feel 100 percent comfortable with before opting for what many women is a life-changing decision.

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Ways to get a loan when you have bad credit

Finance

If you have a poor credit rating, that means banks, credit unions and other financial organizations will define you as “high risk” and most likely refuse to lend you any money. As such, if you’re having trouble saving money and need to get hold of some cash quickly you should try  one of the residential bridge loan lenders before you feel as if you’re at the mercy of notorious pay day loan companies that charge enormous interest rates on their loans. But you should be wary of pay day loans as they often lead to a vicious cycle where you end up borrowing money before your pay check comes simply to pay off last week’s loan, and on, and on.

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So what private money lender and other options do you have to obtain cash fast?

Obtain a car title loan

If you own a vehicle, a car title loan is definitely a good option. Car title loans are quite similar to how pawn shops operate, in that the lender will asses the value of your vehicle and make you an offer based on that, with your vehicle being used as security for that loan.

If you accept the loan, the lender will keep hold of the title of your car until you have paid back the full amount. These loans are usually short-term loans though the interest rates are more affordable than with pay day loans. Make sure you do pay the loan back however. If not, the lender could repossess your vehicle.

Borrow from your friends or family

This is the most obvious option when you’re caught short. Most people know someone, either their parents or a sibling, or a rich mate, who can afford to spot them a few dollars if they need. Still, be sure to pay the money back, because not doing so is one of the fastest ways to poison a good relationship. If you’re looking to borrow a large amount of money from a friend or family member, it might be a good idea to legitimize the loan by creating a contract that includes the terms of the loan and the amount of interest to be paid, if any.

Apply for a peer-to-peer loan

Unfortunately not everyone has rich friends and family, but that doesn’t mean there’s no hope. A relatively new form of loan called a peer-to-peer loan might be a good option. This kind of loan is obtained from an online platform wherein you borrow cash from an individual as opposed to a bank.

Borrowers simply post a listing on one of the multitude of peer-to-peer loan sites asking for a certain amount of cash and stating what it’s needed for. Investors can then review your listing and decide if they want to loan you the cash.

Lenders will still check your credit rating, but because they are individuals you’ll likely be granted a lot more leeway, which means even those with bad credit have a good chance of borrowing the cash they need. In addition, peer-to-peer lenders usually offer lower interest rates than banks.

Pawn some valuables

If you have any valuable possessions you can choose to pawn them at a local pawn shop. The way it works is very simple, the pawn shop will appraise the value of whatever it is you wish to pawn, some jewelry for example. Based on that appraisal, the pawn shop will make you an offer to borrow some cash (at interest) and then you must agree on a time frame by which you can repay the loan and claim back your items. Be warned though, if you don’t pay up in time the pawn shop has every right to confiscate your items and sell them to recoup the money it has lent you.

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10 Qualities of a Good Architect

DIY / Home Improvement

Do you have what it takes to become an architect? This is one of the most common dream jobs for many people. Why not? It is a great, fulfilling, and respectable profession and the pay is very good too. However, this is not just for everyone. There are certain qualities that are required to become a good architect.

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We will discuss here some qualities that good architects usually possess. Discover if you have what it takes to become an architect and if you can indeed score one of the most prestigious architecture jobs in the market.

  1. Excellent sense of design – a good architect has great eye for design and details that they can easily translate ideas onto papers to present to the clients and builders. A good architect can create design just by listening and thinking of ideas.
  2. Good communication skills – they are good with communicating their ideas, thoughts, and plans. Architects deal with clients and builders so it is important for them to convey the message well and accurately.
  3. Great listening skills – and to have great communication skills they also need to be good listeners. They must be willing to listen to the ideas of the clients and other people around them. By listening carefully, they are able to come up with great design based on those ideas that was pitched to them.
  4. Strong drawing skills – a great architect must also have strong drawing or sketching skills to provide accurate plan and design. They should be able to draw by hand or using computer.
  5. Solid technical abilities – architecture can be very technical too so a great architect must have solid technical abilities to incorporate structural, mechanical, and electrical elements into their design for it to be functional and successful.
  6. Problem-solver – another quality of a good architect is the ability to solve problems quickly. They know immediately how to address the problem and come up with a possible solution. They are equipped with plans A-Z in case something wrong happens. Sometimes, they even sense the problem before it happens. That’s how good and prepared they are.
  7. Good collaborator – architects usually work with different people from other architects to engineers, builders, investors, and clients. They need to communicate well and collaborate well for the success of their project.
  8. A visionary – a good architect can visualize well the outcome of a project starting with the plan.
  9. Great passion in their works –the work of an architect is not simple. They embody their work and they have strong passion about coming up with great projects.
  10. Competitive – of course they are competitive as well. This is important to be able to stay in the game. Architecture is a very competitive field. This is not for those with weak heart and character.

Many people want to become an architect. It offers great pay but more than the financial side, it is the passion and love for your work that should matter all the time.

If you are dreaming to become an architect someday then be sure to hone your skills while you are still young.

So, do you think you have the skills and qualities to become a good architect?

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Why you should be shopping online!

Shopping

Shopping online is the way of the commercial world these days ... photo by CC user HebiFot on pixabay

Times have changed, and so have lifestyles. Once upon a time, going for shopping was seen as a leisurely activity, but now it’s more of a need based activity that we can complete with just a few taps and swipes. With online shopping fast replacing the conventional mode of shopping, you may soon want to join the bandwagon for the following reasons:

1. Shop right here, right now

Instant gratification can be considered the USP of online shopping. You may be sitting in the middle of a forest or a busy metropolitan, and still be able to shop! The place is not a concern, nor is the time when it comes to online shopping. The various e-commerce websites are functional at all times, throughout the year, just waiting to serve you at your convenience. So the next time you see a colleague walking past sporting a gorgeous looking blazer, you needn’t wait for the day to end to go shopping; simply whip out your smartphone and start shopping online!

2. Year round discounts and sales

You are saved the agonising wait for end-of-season sales and other monthly or quarterly sales, thanks to online shopping. Most online websites offer regular discounts on products, both domestic and international. If you’re fashion conscious, then Jabong coupons is your answer to fashion nirvana! You can not only save time and energy but also money when you shop online.

3. Anything and Everything in One Place

Give your tired mind and body a rest and opt for shopping online. With just a click, you can purchase fashion pieces such as a tote bag, graphic t-shirts, and accessories. Want a bedsheet that goes with your new bedroom décor? Shop online for it. Need new office supplies? Shop online. Need to buy a birthday present for a friend? Well, shop online! Right from clothes to kitchen essentials, and hairpin to airplane (remote- controlled, of course), you can buy anything online! You can sit back on your comfy couch and start buying groceries, new clothes, textbooks, or anything else that you need with only a Smartphone, tablet, or a laptop in hand!

4. From your Smartphone to your home

With free home delivery becoming the norm with online shopping websites, you can sit back while you wait for your orders to arrive. No more dragging your whining husband around while you keep shopping and adding to the load the poor chaps have to hold!

5. Latest offers, only for you

Get the latest offers, set alerts for when your favourite online fashion brands offer a sale and stay updated on the latest trends with online shopping websites. Many fashion websites offer its users the option to join their newsletters where they can get access to exclusive offers. Furthermore, you can set an alert for when your desired shoe or pair of jeans becomes available at your chosen price point or even when they become available in your preferred colour!

Fair warning: if you’re a compulsive shopper, then we’d suggest that you delete any memories of reading this, or you will most definitely end up splurging on online shopping!

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The Best Transportation Apps

Business Travel

No matter how experienced you are at traveling to new cities, there comes a time you’re going to need a helping hand to be able to get around. Fortunately, today’s business traveler usually comes equipped with a smartphone, and there’s a ton of great apps to help you get from A to B. Whether you’re looking to hire a car and driver at the last minute, or simply trying to find the best route to go on foot, you can always find an app specifically for it, no matter what destination you’re traveling to.

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Here’s our favorite transportation apps for business travelers in 2016:

AllSubway

The first and still the best subway app around, AllSubway provides highly detailed subway maps for dozens of cities in the world, including London, New York, Paris, Tokyo, Sydney and many more. The maps are very easy to use, and you can pinch or pull to zoom in and out. The app also tells you what platform to go to and which stations to get off at if you plot a complicated route.

Blacklane

Sometimes it’s just too annoying to hail a cab in some cities, while other in other cities the taxi ranks are often overflowing with scammers who’ll charge extortionate rates for a very poor service in a beaten up old vehicle. Why bother with all that hassle when you can simply book your ride 60 minutes before with Blacklane? Blacklane is kind of like Uber, only it’s a bit more reliable with fixed rates that don’t increase during busy times. The company touts itself as a worldwide airport transfer service specialist, and provides a hassle-free way to get into the city or to the airport in comfort, and for a reasonable price.

Embark

If you’ve traveled in a foreign country before you’ll be all too aware that you can only get online when there’s a Wi-Fi connection around. But for those moments when we’re outside of the hotel and Wi-Fi isn’t available, Embark is a great way to plot your subway station trips. The app constantly downloads data in the background when you’re connected, so even when you’re offline you can still pull up information on any station to find out the train schedules.

Google Maps

It might be an obvious choice but there really is no maps app that comes close to Google’s offering. The new Google Maps is far superior to the older versions too, with new features like voice-guided GPS navigation, no matter if you’re walking, driving or riding a bike, and also transit directions for more than 15,000 cities. And thanks to the integrated Street View, it’s even easier to find exactly what you’re looking for, and know which landmarks to look out for. Google Maps also offers live traffic conditions in many western cities, so you can do your best to avoid the delays.

Kayak

For travelers in a hurry Kayak offers a very quick fix. Simply search for a flight by entering your location and destination and voila! – Kayak will throw up all available flights starting with the cheapest. Even better, you can book and pay for the flight right their in the app, so there’s no faffing about.

 

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Casual Encounters: A Good Choice?

Love

Seeking Casual Encounters can be the jumpstart for your sex life that you've been looking for ... photo by CC user stokpic on pixabay

When people hear the mention of casual encounters, nine times out of ten you can expect them to paint a pretty negative view on the subject. After all movies and television have illustrated the act as an often drunken affair, where the following morning is met with a mixture of regret and upset. Don’t believe everything you see in the media though as casual dating can be a healthy alternative lifestyle for all involved, thanks to the internet.

With the Internet quickly becoming the main way in which we keep in touch with friends and family, do our shopping, and keep up to date on the latest news around the globe, as well as pretty much most other things in our lives; it’s no surprise to see our romantic lives also being aided by the World Wide Web too.

I’m sure you’re wondering, “How can it be that casual encounters are a healthy alternative?” Sure meeting girls and guys in bars and clubs on sounds like the exact opposite experience on the surface – after all you’re heading back to the bedroom with a random stranger. However with the Internet helping, you can quickly transform this sort of experience into something much safer.

Thanks to dating websites casual encounter have never been easier. For example, you can meet women looking for sex on MySexHookups. Whenever you sign up, you’re given the chance to “sell yourself” by creating your very own personal profile. It’s through these profiles that we can sift through and locate others who share similar interests or at the very least want the same sort of casual experience and vice versa. Whereas in a club you have no real idea as to every person’s likes and dislikes or whether they are even looking for a casual encounter, online dating profiles allow you to filter and locate the best suited people for you.

Using the Internet to meet people also gives you one thing that approaching someone in a bar or club does not – time. You’re given the chance to actually chat a little at first and see if there’s any chemistry there at all. It removes the stress and worry of having to approach a stranger by allowing you to break down that barrier whether it’s via online chat or a phone call.

Furthermore, the extra time allows you to organise a decent evening for the pair of you as opposed to a quick and abrupt one that might leave you feeling dirty and used. Sure the sexual activity will happen at some point (that is why the pair of you are meeting after all) but who’s to say you can’t also throw in a meal or fun activity too? Whereas meeting someone in a club removes any potential to do this, meeting someone online gives you the opportunity to do so.

After dancing in a club for hours on end it’s safe to say you’re hardly feeling your best. With the added element of alcohol thrown into the mix, let’s just say it’s hardly an ideal setup. Meeting online and setting a time gives you the chance to scrub up and look the part, as you would with any sort of date.

Thanks to the Internet casual encounters no longer need to be limited to random hook-ups in seedy bars. Truth of the matter is it can be a healthy alternative in many ways.

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The Rise of Automation in the Food Processing Industry

Tech

The emergence of automation in the food industry has been slower than in other industries. There are many reasons why this is so, but the one that’s most often cited is because food, unlike other products, differs greatly in its shape and consistency, presenting a formidable challenge for those looking to automate food processing systems.

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Traditional food processing systems

Traditional food manufacturing facilities are essentially just giant kitchens, with food prepared in much the same fashion as it was at home. Of course, larger companies were quick to see the benefits of automation where they could, for example with packaging and palletizing. However, advancements in ‘pick-and-place’ robot technology meant that food manufacturers could move automation further along, onto the production lines as well.

Even so, most such systems can only be installed on long-life, high-volume production lines. For smaller manufacturers it means they have been much slower in the move towards automation. They have faced challenges such as limited low-cost labor and expertise, market volatility, and a general consensus that the industry is unsuitable for automation.

However, faced with pressures such as the decline in the availability of low-cost labor, and a demand for assured hygienic products, automation has started to be looked at seriously.

Food manufacturing automation

Those driving forces have seen a rapid increase in the adoption of automation by the industry, that’s also been spurred by advancements in robotics and electromechanical systems that are better able to deal with the challenges of the food industry.

To begin with, automation in food production was focused at the end of the production line, with robot machines being used in the packaging products. Robots are perfect for this task, and this led to a demand for machines that could work further up the production line and fulfill pick-and-place tasks instead of humans.

That demand was met with the introduction of Delta robots, which are now built by several manufacturers. Delta Robots are designed to operate quickly, and can perform around 100 to 120 picks per minute on light payloads of 1 to 2 kilograms. Similar advances in technology have led to the development of flexible effectors that can reliably pick up most food products without damaging or contaminating them.

Future automation in food processing

In the coming years, food processing procedures won’t change much. However, the incidence of manual labor in the industry is all set to decline, as the market will be driven towards automation by outside market forces. One of the greatest difficulties the food processing industry faces is addressing the skills gap that automation will bring, such as finding enough skilled engineers to maintain the machines. As such, this demand for newer, skilled labor will ensure that manual laborers can move on to new opportunities.

 

SIAT Norway supplies a wide range of automated solutions and packaging machines. Read more on their homepage at www.siat.no

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Easy Style Tips for The Common Man

Fashion Shopping

Style tips for common man

We all wish we could look like James Bond but let’s be honest. Most of us cannot afford to drop a yearly salary on a suit. Do not fear, just because you aren’t David Beckham or 007, doesn’t mean you can’t look good. Here are some easy style tips for the common man on a budget.

Shop Smart
The pitfalls of most common man’s wardrobe isn’t the lack of money or variety, it is the lack of thought. Try and think of the last 4 times you went out. What shirt did you wear? What pants? What shoes? Why did you wear this outfit? If the answer is “it was clean,” “it was the closest,” or “I don’t know;” you are doing it wrong. If you want to look good, you need to put a little effort into it. This goes for dressing and buying. Your wardrobe should consist of clothes you picked for a reason, not t-shirts you’ve collected from various 5ks and pub crawls. So make sure you are making conscience choices when shopping and when dressing.

Buy a Suit
Style tips for common man
Even if you don’t work in an environment that requires a suit, you should have one good suit. There will likely be several occasions each year that you have been “getting by” in jeans and and a wrinkly dress shirt. Instead of doing the bare minimum at the next wedding or funeral, wouldn’t you rather have a sharp suit hanging in your closet and ready to go. If you invest in one good suit you will not regret. Going out to dinner with your girlfriend, impress her and put on your suit, see the look on her face. There are very few situations were you will regret wearing a suit and also don’t forgot it versatility. You can easily wear only the suit jacket or the only the suit pants to class up any ordinary outfit. So make the investment and have a suit tailored to you, as long as you choose a flexible style it will last you for years.

Good Shoes
“The Shoes Make the Man” or so they say. There is definitely truth in this idiom. Any stylish man will have a closet with at least half a dozen pairs of shoes. It is important to know what shoes go when. You shouldn’t be wearing the same pair of shoes to the gym that you do out to dinner. Under no circumstances are you wearing your dancing shoes to work.  Shoes can also make the outfit, if you want to make your suit more casual, rock a pair of classic tennis shoes. If you want to make your jeans classier, put on some leather wingtips. If you want to go with a more rugged look, then consider pairing a square toe cowboy boot with your jeans. Remember you can never have too many shoes.

I hope these easy style tips for common man inspired you to go out of you comfort zone and make some simple choices to up your style game. This small suggestions can pay off in a major way.

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