Everything You Need to Know About the DUTCH Test for Hormone Balance

Having to experience persistent symptoms of hormonal dysfunction, such as persistent fatigue, menstrual migraines, unexplained weight gain, menstrual cramps, acne, or brain fog, and undergo staggering amounts of conventional blood tests to determine the problem can be quite frustrating, especially when results come back indeterminate or vague. While laboratory blood tests can detect levels of certain hormones in real-time, such as thyroxine (a thyroid hormone), assessing hormonal imbalances may need a more comprehensive and proactive test that is able to examine how hormones are being secreted, metabolized, and cleared from the body. The Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones (DUTCH) Test is a revolutionary method of hormone testing that illustrates a complete picture of the life cycle of your hormones, thereby providing answers to your questions without having to undergo a complex cycle of testing!  

What is the DUTCH Test?

The DUTCH test is a non-invasive and convenient method of assessing hormone production and metabolism through the use of dried urine samples collected for at least 24 hours.
​It uses mass spectrometry technology which is highly sensitive and precise in assessing steroid hormones even with small sample volumes, thereby showing complete and comprehensive hormone profiles.1 The DUTCH test specifically measures sex hormones, adrenal hormones, and organic acids that play essential roles in keeping the body strong and healthy. The best part is that you can take the test at home! Urine samples are obtained through filter papers, which are dried and sent to the laboratory after an elapsed time. The DUTCH test includes different collection rounds and intervals throughout the day, helping capture different hormonal variations that happen on a day-to-day basis.1 Additionally, it helps assess how your body produces and metabolizes hormones, helping understand the mechanisms behind imbalances, such as estrogen dominance. The DUTCH test is more comprehensive than a single laboratory test, because it is able to assess the daily pattern of your hormones instead of a static amount captured during medical laboratory testing. 
 
Click here to learn more about the DUTCH test.

Signs You Might Need a DUTCH Test

The DUTCH test will help you uncover the presence and degree of hormonal imbalance no matter your gender. Hormone problems may present with:

• Unexplained weight loss or weight gain, or difficulty losing weight
• Chronic fatigue or feelings of burnout
• Brain fog or difficulties focusing on tasks
• Skin issues such as acne, dryness, or rashes
• Irregular, painful, or heavy periods
• Hair thinning or hair loss
• Sleep disturbances or insomnia
• Mood swings or emotional outbursts
• Feelings of anxiety or depression
• Infertility
• Changes in libido (sex drive)
• Erectile dysfunction
• Loss of bone mass (osteoporosis and osteopenia)
• Perimenopausal or menopausal symptoms

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How the Testing Process Works

The whole testing process begins by ordering a kit through us at Natural Path to Wellness once you thoroughly discuss your care plan with our naturopathic medicine advisors. Afterwards, you will then receive your test kit in the mail with detailed instructions to show you how to effectively obtain adequate samples. Once you have completed the kit, you may then mail the specimens back and visit us again to discuss your test results! A detailed instruction guide is included in your test kits. If you have not received any, you may check out these instructions to help you understand what to do before, during, and after collecting your own samples.
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The Naturopathic Approach

The DUTCH test may be requested by your naturopathic doctor to help identify the root causes of hormonal imbalance. Your test results will serve as a guide to your naturopathic treatment plan, which includes targeted supplements according to your unique health needs, herbal medicine to support your body’s natural abilities to heal itself, and nutritional and lifestyle changes to help nurture balance within!
 
At Natural Path to Wellness, your team of naturopathic medicine advisors will help you nurture your optimal health through intensive and holistic care. Talk to us today!

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​This article is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Please consult your licensed naturopathic physician or other licensed healthcare provider before making changes to your medications or supplements. 

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REFERENCE:

1. Newman M, Curran DA. Reliability of a dried urine test for comprehensive assessment of urine hormones and metabolites. BMC Chem. 2021;15(1):18. Published 2021 Mar 15. doi:10.1186/s13065-021-00744-3