Why the DUTCH Hormone Test Can Be great When Your Hormones Feel All Over the Place

Do you feel like your body has changed but nobody can quite explain why?

Perhaps you're exhausted despite sleeping, struggling with weight gain around your middle, waking at 3am, feeling anxious for no obvious reason, snapping at your family, suffering with PMS, heavy periods, low libido, hot flushes, brain fog or simply feeling like you've lost yourself.
One of the most common things I hear from clients is: "My blood tests came back normal, but I know something isn't right."
This is where advanced hormone testing can be incredibly helpful.

At the Thrive Clinic, I offer DUTCH hormone testing, one of the most comprehensive, non-invasive (it uses urine) hormone tests currently available.
It helps us look beyond whether your hormone levels are simply "normal" and instead explore how your body is actually producing, using and breaking down those hormones.


What Is The DUTCH Hormone Test?

DUTCH stands for Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones.
It is an easy-to-complete home test that measures sex hormones, stress hormones and hormone metabolites using a series of dried urine samples collected throughout the day.

Unlike a single blood test that captures one moment in time, the DUTCH test provides a much broader picture of what's happening behind the scenes. It looks not only at your hormone levels but also at how your body processes those hormones.  From a naturopathic perspective, this is incredibly valuable because symptoms often arise not simply because a hormone is high or low, but because the body is struggling to regulate, metabolise or clear hormones efficiently.

What Can The DUTCH Test Measure?

Depending on the test selected, the DUTCH can assess:

• Oestrogen and its metabolites
• Progesterone
• Testosterone and androgens
• Cortisol and cortisone
• DHEA
• Melatonin
• Hormone detoxification pathways
• Organic acid markers linked to nutrient status
• Oxidative stress markers
• Certain markers related to gut health and microbial balance
This allows us to build a much clearer picture of what may be contributing to symptoms.

Who Might Benefit From DUTCH Testing?
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DUTCH testing may be helpful if you are experiencing:

​ PMS or PMDD
• Heavy, painful or irregular periods
• Endometriosis
• PCOS
• Fertility concerns
• Perimenopause symptoms
• Menopause symptoms
• Low libido
• Anxiety or low mood
• Poor sleep
• Chronic stress
• Burnout
• Fatigue
• Brain fog
• Weight gain
• Hair loss
• Acne
• Unexplained symptoms despite "normal" blood tests

It can also be extremely useful for women who are already using HRT or natural hormone support and want a deeper understanding of how their body is responding.

Why I Like The DUTCH Test

As both a naturopath, functional medicine practitioner and nutritional therapist, I am always interested in finding the root cause rather than simply masking symptoms. 

Hormone issues rarely exist in isolation.

Your stress levels affect your hormones.
Your gut health affects your hormones.
Your nutrient status affects your hormones.
Your liver's ability to detoxify and clear hormones affects your hormones.

The DUTCH test allows us to explore these interconnected systems and identify patterns that may not show up on standard testing.

For example, two women may have very similar oestrogen levels. One feels fantastic while the other suffers from headaches, breast tenderness, heavy periods and mood swings. Often the difference lies in how those hormones are being metabolised and cleared from the body and this is where DUTCH testing can provide valuable clues.

The Different DUTCH Tests Available

DUTCH Complete
£280
The DUTCH Complete is the most popular option.
It provides a detailed assessment of sex hormones, cortisol patterns, adrenal function and hormone metabolites. It also includes valuable markers relating to nutrient status, oxidative stress, melatonin and hormone metabolism.
This is often the best choice for women struggling with fatigue, PMS, perimenopause, menopause, stress-related symptoms, weight gain, sleep issues and hormone imbalance.

DUTCH Cycle Mapping
£355
Hormones fluctuate throughout the menstrual cycle.
Cycle Mapping measures hormones across the month, allowing us to see the rise and fall of oestrogen and progesterone throughout your cycle.
This can be particularly useful for:
• PMS
• PMDD
• Irregular cycles
• Fertility concerns
• Suspected ovulation issues
• Unexplained hormone symptoms despite normal blood tests
It provides a much more detailed picture of what is happening across the entire cycle rather than on a single day.

DUTCH Complete with Cycle Mapping
£465
This combines both tests for the most comprehensive hormone assessment available.
It provides detailed information on hormone production, hormone metabolism, adrenal function, cortisol patterns and how hormones fluctuate throughout your cycle.
For complex cases, this often gives the deepest insight into why symptoms are occurring.

Do I Need A Consultation?
No.  Many people simply want access to high-quality functional testing.
You can purchase any of the DUTCH tests directly without booking a consultation.
Your test kit will be delivered to your home with full instructions and can be completed in your own time.
If you would like help interpreting your results and creating a personalised nutrition and naturopathic plan, you can book a consultation separately, but this is entirely optional.

Ready To Get Answers?
If you've been told everything is normal but you still don't feel like yourself, the DUTCH hormone test can provide a much deeper understanding of what may be happening beneath the surface.
Whether you're navigating PMS, perimenopause, menopause, fatigue, anxiety, poor sleep, fertility challenges or simply want to understand your hormones better, this test can provide valuable insight into your body's unique hormone story.
Because sometimes the missing piece isn't that your hormones are normal, It's understanding what your body is actually doing with them.