DUTCH

What is the DUTCH Test?

The DUTCH Test is a laboratory method that evaluates sex hormones, adrenal hormones, and key metabolic byproducts using dried urine samples you collect across a 24-hour period or over a menstrual cycle. This test reveals not only hormone levels but also how your body produces, uses, and eliminates them — capturing patterns and pathways that traditional testing often misses.

By assessing both parent hormones and their metabolites (the products of hormone breakdown), the DUTCH Test helps clinicians understand hormone balance, detoxification pathways, stress response, and metabolic health — supporting more targeted care planning.

What DUTCH Testing Can Help With

DUTCH Testing is commonly used by integrative and functional medicine providers when hormone-related symptoms or complex health patterns need deeper investigation, including:

• Menopause, perimenopause, and menstrual irregularities
• Chronic fatigue, sleep disruption, or stress-related symptoms
• Low libido, mood swings, or reproductive hormone imbalance
• Unexplained weight changes, brain fog, or metabolic concerns
• Hormone monitoring during hormone replacement therapy (HRT)

This test can also provide insights into adrenal function, estrogen metabolism, and other systemic biomarkers that affect wellness.

How It Works

The DUTCH Test kit is easy to use and collected entirely at home using a series of dried urine samples:

1. You or your clinician orders the appropriate DUTCH Test kit based on your health goals.
2. The kit includes special filter paper strips and simple instructions for timed urine collection over 24 hours (or throughout a cycle for cycle mapping).
3. Once samples are collected and dried, you mail the kit to the laboratory for precision analysis.
4. Results are returned to your clinician for interpretation and personalized care planning.

Working with a healthcare provider ensures proper interpretation and recommendations for follow-up care.

What the DUTCH Test Measures

The DUTCH Test evaluates a wide array of hormones and related markers, providing a comprehensive snapshot of endocrine and metabolic function:

Sex and Reproductive Hormones

• Estrogens (E1, E2, E3) and their metabolites
• Progesterone metabolites
• Androgens including testosterone and DHEA-S

Adrenal Hormones & Stress Biomarkers

• Cortisol and cortisone levels across the day (diurnal pattern)
• Metabolites that reflect total hormone production and elimination

Organic Acids & Metabolic Markers

• Melatonin (sleep cycle marker)
• Organic acid tests (OATs) tied to oxidative stress, nutrient status, neurotransmitter metabolism, and detoxification pathways

Together, these measurements offer a rich hormonal and metabolic profile that can highlight underlying imbalances and guide treatment strategies.

Who Should Consider DUTCH Hormone Testing

DUTCH Testing may be appropriate if you’re experiencing persistent or unexplained symptoms that could be hormone-related, such as:

• Persistent fatigue or sleep disturbance
• Mood changes, anxiety, or low libido
• Irregular menstrual cycles or fertility concerns
• Symptoms around perimenopause or menopause
• Hormone therapy monitoring and optimization

Your clinician can help determine if DUTCH Testing is the right next step based on your health history and goals.

To explore DUTCH hormone testing as part of your personalized wellness plan, talk with your healthcare provider about which test option fits your needs and how results can support actionable care strategies.