Women's Health

We strive to provide an excellent health care experience for women at all stages of their lives. We offer a wide array of “Well Woman” services from Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy, Medical Weight Loss solutions that are personalized to reduce, adapt as well as maintain. We can recommend a variety of women's health dietary supplements to help boost your daily energy and provide resources to aid you in a healthy and active lifestyle. At any age, it is important to build a relationship with your health care provider who strives to educate and guide you with sensitivity and care. For our patients suffering with menopausal symptoms, we provide relief through prescription medication that reduces risk of osteoporosis and ensures sexual comfort and care. Please see our Women’s Health page for more detailed information regarding the specific services we provide. Please see our links below for more detailed information regarding the specific services we provide.

Hormone Replacement Therapy

Weight Management

Sexual Health

Hormone Replacement Therapy

Hormones are very powerful things. When they are in balance, life is good. We feel energetic, happy, sexy, and alive. We sleep well and are energized in the morning. Our weight loss efforts from good nutrition and fitness programs actually work. We lose weight and keep it off. On the other hand, when hormones are out of balance, multiple symptoms can arise. If you have any of the following symptoms, you may be experiencing hormonal imbalance:

Hot flashes/night sweats
Food cravings
Weight gain/inability to lose weight
Foggy thinking
Decreased libido
Hair loss
Vaginal dryness
Breast tenderness
Endometriosis
Depression
Arthritis/joint pains

Migraines/headaches
Insomnia/sleep disturbances
Poor concentration
Fatigue
Inability to build/maintain muscle
Irritability/mood swings
PMS
Fibrocystic breasts
Anxiety
Bloating
Impaired immune system/frequent infections

At our practice, we offer a variety of options to treat hormone imbalances. When indicated, we will offer synthetic HRT, as well as Bioidentical HRT. Bioidentical hormones are an exact replica of the hormones that are produced in your body. HRT treatment regimens are custom tailored to the individual based on results of blood test or urine collection, health history, physical exam, and symptoms.

Hormone Replacement Therapy

Estrogen

Which symptoms occur as a result of Estrogen imbalance?

Night sweats
Hot flashes
Vaginal dryness
Memory fog
Bone loss
Heart palpitations
Migraines
Depression
Painful intercourse
Insomnia
Dry skin

Loss of sex drive
Breast tenderness
Uterine fibroids
Anxiety
Mood irritability
Weight gain
Water retention
Heavy menstrual cycles
Hypothyroidism
Fatigue

What is the difference between oral and transdermal/pellet estrogens?

When oral estrogen is metabolized in the liver, it goes through “first pass metabolism” and eventually gets broken down into unfavorable estrogen metabolites. There are a number of harmful side effects including increased risk for clotting, breast cancer, etc. Our natural hormones are designed to be slowly released into the blood stream, leading to less overload on liver metabolism. Transdermal estrogen replacement mimics our natural physiologic hormone responses and has less detrimental side effects than are typically seen with oral estrogens.

Estrone (E1)

The main estrogen the body makes post-menopausally. High levels may increase a woman’s risk of breast cancer.

Estradiol (E2)

This provides over 400 functions in the body; the most potent estrogen.

Increases metabolism
Improves insulin sensitivity
Prevents muscle damage
Regulates body temperature
Improves sleep
Maintains elasticity of arteries
Increases blood flow

Decreases plaque in arteries
Maintains collagen in skin
Decreases LDL
Increases HDL
Reduces cataracts
Helps prevent Alzheimer’s Disease

Estriol (E3)

The least potent and most beneficial estrogen.

80 times weaker than estradiol, so it has less stimulatory effect
Protects against breast cancer
Helps maintain pregnancy
Benefits vaginal lining

Restores proper pH of vagina
Helps reduce pathogenic bacteria, urinary tract, or bladder infections
Helps the gastrointestinal tract maintain a favorable environment of growth of probiotics, such as lactobacilli

What are the costs to achieve hormone balance?

At the time of your visit our practitioners will discuss with you the best options for your treatment. This allows us to determine the type of testing we will need to do. Blood work for those desiring pellets is billed to your insurance company and the usual copays/deductibles/co-insurance applies. We also routinely look at other aspects of your health other than just estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone.

How do I get started?

Simply call the office at 479-268-6404 for your initial consultation. Your appointment will be scheduled with one of our qualified practitioners. You will be asked to enter your medical history online via the Digichart patient portal.

What happens at the second appointment?

The second appointment is made for 1-3 weeks later, depending upon the testing method used, and is used to discuss your individualized treatment plan. This visit lasts about 20-30 minutes with your provider.

What is a compounding pharmacy?

A compounding pharmacy is the oldest type of pharmacy in the world: an apothecary with a pharmacist trained in formulating prescriptions on the order of a physician. This allows for a customized dosage strength made just for you. We work with several compounding pharmacies in the area.

What is the difference between bioidentical hormones and synthetic HRT?

Bioidentical hormones, such as estradiol, estriol, and estrone, are chemically exact to the molecular structure of the hormones produced within the human body.

Synthetic hormones, like Premarin™, are conjugated estrogens that have been derived from pregnant horse urine.

Testosterone

Despite testosterone being known as a male sex hormone, women actually need significant amounts of testosterone to achieve optimal hormone balance. Testosterone is vital to the health and well-being of BOTH men and women.

There are a lot of myths related to the treatment of low testosterone therapy. Our practitioners are prepared to answer any questions you may have regarding testosterone therapy.

Health Benefits of Optimal Testosterone Levels

Reduces risk of heart disease
Reduces blood sugar
Increases bone density
Decreases cholesterol
Increases libido and sexual performance
Increases sense of emotional well-being

Increases muscle mass/strength
Decreases excess body fat
Improves healing capacity
Helps skin from sagging
Helps maintain memory
Possible reduction of breast cancer

Symptoms of Testosterone Deficiency

Thinning skin
Low libido
Bone loss
Foggy thinking/memory loss
Fatigue

Muscle loss
Body aches/joint pains
Urinary leaking/frequency
Lack of motivation
Headaches

Weight Management

New Directions Health and Wellness provides a full spectrum of care in your journey towards a healthier you. We are committed to helping you lose weight, restoring your wellbeing, and regaining a more vibrant life.

Medical weight management
Nutrition management
Wellness coaching
Behavior assessments

Body composition analysis
Metabolic assessments
Corporate wellness

Our team of medical professionals provide ongoing monitoring, support, accountability and education for long term success. Our multidisciplinary approach is individually customized to create lasting lifestyle changes. We also extend our support to corporate wellness programs.

The New Direction® Meal Replacement Program is a medically monitored, ketogenic plan that utilizes New Direction® nutritional products to guarantee quick weight loss results. For ongoing motivation and optimal weight loss success, this comprehensive program includes routine follow-ups, health screenings, education, and behavior modification. Assessments are reviewed with our physician, Dr. Scott Smith, to help determine any underlying factors contributing to weight gain or an inability to lose weight. A treatment plan is established, and in some cases, medications may be available to help.

In keeping with our commitment to help improve your health and well-being, The New Direction® Program offers a full range of accountability and guidance through all stages of weight loss. These phases include Reducing, Adapting, and Maintenance. Weekly classes are offered to provide weight management tools with focus on nutrition, exercise and behavioral health habits. Once goal weight is achieved, your customized plan will help you succeed in maintaining your weight loss, commit to healthy behaviors, and create a lasting lifestyle change.

To get started, or for additional information, call 479.202.6980 or email janee.nwanewdirections@gmail.com (please leave your contact information in the case we are assisting other patients). Our certified health coach and nutritionist, Janée Blain, will promptly respond and assist with the decision that is best for YOU.

Weight Managment