Why I recommend DUTCH Test for Hormone Testing
I offer my clients one of the most advanced hormone tests, “The DUTCH Hormone Test (Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones) by Precision Analytical lab, showing an extensive profile of sex and adrenal hormones and melatonin, along with their metabolites, to help identify symptoms of hormonal imbalance. Whilst you can test your hormones via blood or saliva testing, these options do have some limits. You can find out more about the Dutch Test and ORDER yours here Hormone Testing
Over the years working with my female clients, I’ve learnt that if your steroid hormones are out of balance, it can affect every other system in your body. Testing your hormones (instead of guessing) is crucial to feeling better! Whilst Lab tests won’t cure you, test results can show you data on where your body may be struggling, enabling you to make some simple lifestyle changes, follow a natural or holistic path, or seek further Medical advice and investigation if necessary.
Why I use the Dutch Test:
- Simplicity
The Dutch test is simple to do, you just urinate on to filter paper, let it dry and pop it back in the post.
- Cortisol Production
The Dutch test measures free and total (metabolized) cortisol, Metabolised cortisol is around 80% of your total cortisol production and is a more accurate way of analysing your adrenal gland health. If you have saliva adrenal testing this only measures the free fraction of cortisol, around 1% of your cortisol production, so the tests will be less clear.
Many women are told they have low cortisol levels and adrenal fatigue based on saliva testing results. Many of these have high metabolised cortisol which means although their free cortisol was low, the overall production was in balance.
- The Dutch test can shed light on thyroid complaints.
Now this is not a thyroid test, and I highly recommend these to some of my clients, if you are hypothyroid the adrenal element on the Dutch test will likely point to this. The Dutch test shows your production of Cortisol and also how you are clearing it from your system, and these levels may point towards the need for further thyroid testing.
- The Dutch test gives you a total picture of DHEA production.
DHEA is the vitality hormone that counter balances the effects of too much cortisol. The Dutch test shows you the overall DHEA production in your body. (There are 3 metabolites of DHEA, DHEA-S, etiocholanolone and androsterone). The difference between DHEA and DHEAS is that the DHEA has an extra sulphate molecule attached and 90% of the DHEA in the body is in the form of DHEA-S. But “sulphation” of DHEA into DHEA-S is inhibited if your body is struggling with inflammation. So if you have high total DHEA production but low DHEA-S it can often be due to inflammation.
- The Dutch test shows how you’re processing your Oestrogen.
Your body has to get rid of any excess oestrogen that it doesn’t use up, and is expelled with the help of the liver and bowels. The Dutch test shows how you metabolise your oestrogen.
The 1st is via the 2, 4 and 16 hydroxy estrone pathway. 70% of your oestrogen should break down to 2-OH as this is the more protective oestrogen metabolite.
Then we have 4-OH and 16-OH which are the more proliferative type of oestrogen and potentially cancer-causing metabolites. Now we do need all 3 types, but 4-OH and 16-OH should be 10% or 20%.
- The Dutch test shows you how well you are “methylating” your oestrogen.
Methylation of oestrogen is part of the oestrogen detoxification process, the other method can be seen via a stool test). Methylation is a protective step which turns your 2-Hydroxy estrone into a 2-Methoxy estrone. This takes place in your liver, so this test can indicate towards your liver health too. Many women find that their methylation is lacking. This is why I’m so passionate about Liver health for my clients, whilst our Liver is capable of detoxing, we live in a toxic environment and our livers are often overloaded with toxins.
- The Dutch test tells you what type of testosterone metabolites your body prefers.
Testosterone can break down into a 5a-DHT or 5b-DHT. The 5a-DHT is more androgenic or potent, and is often responsible for things like acne, thinning head hair, excess body hair and can be linked with PCOS. If you have these symptoms, and have 5a reductase activity, there are specific things that you can do to reduce this metabolite of testosterone, but it won’t be shown in a saliva test, hence why you need the unine and Dutch test.
- The Dutch test can tell you if you are oestrogen dominant.
Many women are oestrogen dominant and it’s one of the most damaging hormone imbalances that we face today. It means that you don’t have enough progesterone to balance out your oestrogen. When you are oestrogen dominant you may have PMS, migraines, heavy periods, mood swings. Many women think Oestrogen dominance mean they have too much oestrogen, and this can be true but not always. You can have low oestrogen and oestrogen dominant, and that’s usually as you have low oestrogen and even lower progesterone levels. The Dutch test can tell you both, your total oestrogen and your oestrogen level in comparison to your progesterone. You need to see both levels in order to sort out your hormone imbalance.
- The Dutch test checks your levels of B6, B12 and Melatonin.
Having a Dutch test helps you see your overall health picture, gaining an understanding in to how your body is working or struggling enables you to put new lifestyle choices into practice.
Are you struggling with your Hormones? Want to know if the Dutch Test is suitable for you?
Book a Discovery Call to find out how you can work with me!
Book your FREE Discovery Call appointment now here or drop me an Email via the contact page https://thehormonefairy.gettimely.com/book
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