Guide to Functional Testing: What’s DUTCH, When & Why?
If you know me, or have read through my website, you will know that I am no stranger to hormonal imbalances. Through my own personal experience and of course, my clinical experiences, I have learned that when it comes to hormones, guessing gets us nowhere fast, and while I love a good food diary and symptom tracker, sometimes we need to get more data.
This is where the DUTCH test comes in. No, not Dutch as in windmills and stroopwafels (sadly). DUTCH stands for Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones and it is one of the most informative tools I use in clinic to get a better picture of what might be going on.
What is the DUTCH test?
In simple terms: the DUTCH test is a dried urine test that gives a very detailed picture of your hormones. Think of it like a hormonal map, not just showing you what hormones are floating around, but also how your body is using, breaking down, and excreting them.
It looks at:
- Sex hormones (oestrogen, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA)
- Adrenal hormones (cortisol and cortisone – plus their patterns across the day)
- Hormone metabolites (how your body’s processing it all – essential!)
- Key organic acids (B6, B12, glutathione, dopamine pathways)
Who might benefit?
If you’re dealing with any of the following and not getting answers, it can be very helpful:
- You’ve come off the pill and your periods are missing or chaotic
- You suspect PCOS or endometriosis but bloods come back “normal”
- Your mood and energy levels are all over the place
- You have debilitating PMS, heavy bleeding, or painful periods
- You’re navigating perimenopause and feel like a different human
- You’re on HRT and still having symptoms
What’s the test like?
Depending on your stage of life, your birth control method and whether you are on HRT will determine which DUTCH test you can do.
Depending on the above information, you will either do a 24 hour DUTCH test or a full cycle DUTCH test. Please contact me if you decide to book a hormonal package with me so that we can check you are booking the correct test!
Whichever test you do, it simply involves peeing on special bits of paper at different times of the day. You then let the strips dry, pop them in the post and wait..!
Blood Test Vs DUTCH Test
This is very simplified, but essentially…
Blood tests = a single moment in time.
DUTCH = a day in the life of your hormones with behind-the-scenes commentary.
You’re not just seeing what’s there, you’re understanding how your body is dealing with it.
What happens if we decide to run one?
We chat about your symptoms, your goals, and your history — and if DUTCH seems like a good fit, I’ll organise the test for you. When the results are back, we book a follow-up session where I walk you through the findings (no confusing graphs or science waffle, unless that is what you’re into!) and build you a practical, personalised plan from there.
If you’ve made it this far, thank you for reading this blog and I hope you found it interesting or helpful. If you’re struggling with symptoms that just aren’t adding up, know that you’re not alone and that you don’t have to keep guessing. Functional testing like the DUTCH can provide the clarity you need to move forward confidently. If you’re curious whether it could help you, feel free to contact me. I’d love to support you in finding the right approach for your unique body.
