The DUTCH test: A missing piece of the hormonal puzzle
If you’ve been told “your blood tests are normal” yet you still feel exhausted, irritable, bloated or wired.. this may be for you.
As a registered nutritionist specialising in female hormonal health, I see this every week. Women in their late 30s, 40s and early 50s doing “all the right things” but feeling completely disconnected from their bodies.
This is where DUTCH hormone testing becomes a powerful, science-backed tool to understand what your hormones are actually doing behind the scenes.
Let’s break it down.
What Is DUTCH Testing?
DUTCH stands for ‘Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones’.
It measures how your body:
Produces hormones
Breaks them down
Converts them into different forms
And clears them out
This gives far more insight than a single blood or saliva snapshot.
Instead of just asking, “Are my hormones high or low?”
DUTCH asks, “How are my hormones behaving?”
And that’s where the magic is.
Who is DUTCH most helpful for?
DUTCH testing is especially useful for women who are:
Pre-menopausal or peri-menopausal (typically 30–50)
Experiencing fatigue, anxiety or low mood
Struggling with poor sleep or night waking
Dealing with weight gain or stubborn weight around the middle
Having irregular, heavy or painful periods
Experiencing PMS, PMDD or low libido
Struggling to conceive
Suffering from hair loss or acne
Feeling “hormonal” but getting normal blood results
It’s also incredibly valuable if you’re coming off hormonal contraception or navigating perimenopause & HRT.
What Does DUTCH Testing Actually Show You?
Here’s a simple breakdown of what the DUTCH test shows you, and how is relates to your symptoms.
Which of these do you relate to? For many clients, it’s usually a combination of a few.
Oestrogen & how it is metabolised
Oestrogen supports mood, energy, skin, bones & metabolism. When too high, too low, or poorly metabolised, symptoms such as bloating, breast tenderness, weight gain, headaches & mood swings can arise.
Progesterone
Progesterone is your calming, sleep-supporting hormone. It often drops first in perimenopause, leading to anxiety, insomnia and heavy or painful periods, shorter cycle length & spotting.
Cortisol: Your stress response across the day
Cortisol is one of your main stress hormones. When chronically high or low, it can inhibit fat loss, disrupt sleep and worsen anxiety & cravings.
Testosterone
Testosterone supports motivation, confidence, libido, muscle tone & metabolic health. Low levels in women are associated with fatigue, low sex drive & lower exercise tolerance.
DHEA
DHEA is a key adrenal hormone that acts as a building block for oestrogen & testosterone. Low DHEA is commonly linked to chronic stress, burnout & reduced libido. DHEA is one of the clearest markers of how well your adrenal system is coping.
Melatonin
Melatonin is your sleep & repair hormone. Low melatonin is associated with difficulty falling or staying asleep & feeling unrefreshed in the morning. It also plays a role in immune & metabolic health.
Neurotransmitter metabolites
These show you how your brain chemicals like dopamine, noradrenaline & serotonin are being used & broken down. Imbalances can contribute to anxiety, low mood, emotional eating & exhaustion.
Inflammation
Low-grade inflammation quietly disrupts hormone signalling, blood sugar control, fat burning & energy levels. Inflammation can be driven by stress, gut health, food sensitivities, infections, lifestyle choices & exposures. Together, we can work out what’s driving your inflammation & how to calm the response.
Nutrient markers
Deficiencies in key nutrients like B-vitamins, magnesium & antioxidants can prevent hormones from working properly. These nutrients are key for clearing excess oestrogen, producing neurotransmitters & regulating your stress response, so ensuring adequate levels is essential.
This test isn’t about labelling you as “broken”.
It’s about seeing what your body is prioritising and where it needs support.
Why Work with a Registered Nutritional Therapist to Interpret Results?
DUTCH reports are not simple. They’re data-rich and complex.
Two women can have the same oestrogen level but wildly different symptoms depending on:
How they metabolise it
How their liver clears it
How their gut eliminates it
How their stress hormones interact with it
A registered nutritional therapist will take this data and translate it for you into meaningful, actionable steps.
This ensures recommendations are:
Targeted to your biochemistry (Personalised nutrition at it’s best)
Evidence-based & safe (Not generic internet advice)
How Do You Take a DUTCH Test?
It’s refreshingly simple.
You collect a few urine samples at home (usually over one day), post them to the lab, and receive a detailed report. No clinic visits. No needles.
How Nutrition & Lifestyle Supports your Hormones
While DUTCH testing shows us what’s happening, your daily habits determine how your hormones respond.
Key foundations I often support clients with include:
For oestrogen balance
Fibre-rich foods (vegetables, seeds, legumes)
Supporting liver detox pathways
Gut support to improve elimination
For progesterone
Blood sugar stability
Adequate protein & healthy fats
Stress reduction
Micronutrients like B6, magnesium & zinc
For cortisol
Eating enough (especially breakfast)
Sustainable movement
Sleep hygiene
Nervous system regulation
These are not “quick fixes”—they are strategic, personalised recommendations, guided by your data.
Your Hormones Aren’t Broken. They’re Communicating.
If you’re tired of guessing, Googling and pushing through symptoms, DUTCH testing can give you more clarity.
And when that data is paired with expert interpretation and personalised nutrition, it becomes truly transformative.
Ready to Feel Like Yourself Again?
If you’d like to explore whether DUTCH hormone testing is right for you, I invite you to book a complementary ‘Hormone Review’ call with me.
Together we can:
Discuss your symptoms
Review your goals
Create a plan to support your hormones in a way that feels empowering, not overwhelming
Your body isn’t failing you. It’s asking for support.
Let’s listen.
I’m Christabel . . .
I am a nutritional therapist & health coach, specialising in female hormonal health.
I help female clients every day who are struggling with debilitating hormonal symptoms. Some clients are learning about nutrition from scratch, whilst others have foundational knowledge on how to support their health, but are still getting stuck. Lots of us know what to do, but struggle to implement positive changes into our busy lives…
This is where 1:1 work can be so powerful. My client support is a successful combination of nutritional education and health coaching. This creates the consistency and accountability that women need to stay on top of their goals, long-term.
If you would like the opportunity to talk to me about how I work with my female clients and successfully help them through their health challenges, then click the link below to book in your ‘hormone review call’. This is a complementary, 30 minute call where you can discuss your symptoms and health goals with me, and I can also give you some tips on how to improve your health straight away.
Over on my instagram page, I also publish regular nuggets of health advice centred around female health. This includes seasonal recipes, health and lifestyle tips. Follow me by clicking the link below.