The advantages of the DUTCH test for hormones, fertility + energy

Photo by Siobhan Calder

The DUTCH test, short for Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones, is a diagnostic tool I often use in clinic and favoured by a lot of functional medicine doctors (doctors who have undergone further training into individualised medicine to address the root cause of disease). It gives so many insights into hormonal health, so we’ll discuss a few of those here.

HOW IS THE TEST DONE?

It’s a simple one, you pee on strips which are then dried and sent off to the lab. You do this at a certain point in your cycle, typically you do 4-5 across a 24 hour period.

Who is this useful for?

• If you suspect an hormonal imbalance, even if you’ve been told your blood tests are all “normal”

• You experience PMS / bloating / headaches / PMDD / irritability /mood swings / heavy, or painful periods

• Struggles losing weight despite exercise and a balanced diet

• Troubles with fertility, pregnancy loss, PCOS or endometriosis

• Missing or irregular periods

• Fatigue and exhaustion

• Anxiety or trouble getting to sleep and struggles getting up in the morning

• History or family history of hormone-related cancers

• Anyone wanting to get more insight into their hormonal health

Image by Siobhan Calder

Let's break down why the DUTCH test stands out in addressing these health challenges. If you’d rather skip straight to a video explaining a little about the test, check out the one at the end of this article.

1. Comprehensive Metabolite Analysis

The DUTCH test stands apart by providing a thorough analysis of hormonal metabolites. This isn’t something you get from blood tests or standard hormone panels. This is useful as it shows the breakdown and processing of hormones. For example, we don’t only have one type of estrogen. We have different “types” and these have different potencies. So it isn’t only about estrogen driving symptoms, it’s about understand the types of estrogen you have. As some of these can contribute more to areas such as heavy periods and cramping than others. This depth of information aids in pinpointing the origins of hormonal imbalances and most importantly how these can be specifically supported.

2. Personalised Understanding of Hormone Metabolism

Each individual metabolises hormones uniquely. The DUTCH test delivers a personalised overview of how estrogen, progesterone, and other hormones are processed, enabling tailored interventions that address specific imbalances. This precision is crucial for effective treatment planning as it show how the body is breaking these down aka “detoxifying” them. This is really important to see as some hormone metabolites can be reactive and cause cellular damage. For example, some breast cancers are often blamed on estrogen; however, it is estrogen metabolism through phase 1 and phase 2 detoxification in these types that counts the most. So, the DUTCH test gives a clear picture of your individual detoxification pathways so we can target diet and lifestyle advice to modulate these.

3. Clarity in Hormonal Conditions

For individuals dealing with hormonal conditions like PCOS or endometriosis, the DUTCH test offers clarity. By examining hormone metabolites, it helps identify patterns and imbalances associated with these conditions, guiding me towards targeted interventions. We can also use cycle tracking to assess the pattern of hormones across a full cycle, rather than rely on a snapshot of time (which is a limitation of bloods). This is so useful for those with irregular cycles or amenorrhea.

4. Fertility Insights

This test can be a really valuable tool for those navigating fertility challenges. By offering a detailed analysis of reproductive hormones and their metabolites, it aids in uncovering obstacles to fertility and informs personalised strategies to enhance reproductive health. For example, we can assess progesterone health which is crucial to prepare the lining for an egg to implant and grow.

5. stress + adrenal health

So the DUTCH test takes a comprehensive approach by assessing not only sex hormones but also adrenal hormones and their interactions. This broader view is essential, as imbalances in cortisol and DHEA can significantly impact sex hormone balance. It can also give us insights into the pattern of cortisol across the day. This is really important as I often seen dysregulation in this pattern in women, this can cause symptoms such as fatigue, burn out, tired and wired at night and struggling to get up in the morning. We also see melatonin markers, our “sleep hormone'“ and key vitamin, neurotransmitter and oxidative stress markers. Meaning we can target all areas necessary for optimal health.

so why do I use the dutch test?

When we want to understand and address hormonal health issues, the DUTCH test stands out for its wide array of markers, practicality (it is completed at home) and specificity (we can really hone in on areas). Whether it's hormonal imbalances, specific conditions, or fertility concerns, this test provides concrete data to inform targeted interventions in your personalised programme.

Want to see some of the markers in action and hear more about these? Check out the video below where I run through some of the pages on the DUTCH report.

Want to delve more into your hormonal health and understand more about DUTCH and other functional testing we use in clinic? Just book a chat on the link below.

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