DUTCH Testing and Fertility
The DUTCH or dried urine test for comprehensive hormones has been around for years. It involves testing dried urine from various samples during a day in your mid luteal phase.
This test measures levels of sex hormone (estrogen, progesterone, testosterone), their metabolites, adrenal hormones (cortisol, cortisone, DHEA), melatonin and other markers of detoxification/oxidative stress over a 12 hour period.
Why consider DUTCH testing in fertility and reproductive health? Hormone balance is a key factor in healthy ovulation, implantation and early pregnancy support. The DUTCH test can help understand hormone balance and other factors affecting hormone balance by:
- measuring estrogen levels and how estrogen is being metabolised
- evaluating whether you are producing adequate progesterone in the luteal phase
- assessing adrenal hormone function, especially cortisol patterns, which can influence reproductive hormones and stress response
- detecting oxidative stress and detoxification issues that might affect egg or sperm health or implantation environment
- identifying patterns or imbalances that would guide personalised treatments
It is much more comprehensive than blood testing and gives a really holistic understanding of hormones and their metabolites and how stress is affecting hormones, egg quality and a healthy menstrual cycle. I’ve found it’s helped naturopaths and functional doctors be more specific in herbal formulas and supplement support.
What to expect – your practitioner will order the test, it will then be sent directly to you, you will collect urine at specific times of the day including upon waking, 2 hours later, evening and bedtime, once the samples are dried, you will ship the samples back to the lab where they’re analysed and report sent to your practitioner.
Your practitioner (me) will get the results, make an appointment to discuss the results with the lab and then make an appointment with you to discuss what we found and how we can taylor your treatment plan with the results.
We may do it again to track progress.
DUTCH is not limited to females. This test can provide invaluable information about men’s health to help understand issues with sperm health.
It’s also really valuable in understanding perimenopause symptoms – of which many are more indicative of adrenal dysfunction and not just hormone balance.
For a balanced point of view, there are some limitations, cautions and considerations including;
- it is only part of the picture and can’t be used as a stand alone diagnosis
- if you’re on the OCP or HRT, the results may not be as accurate
- challenging to time if you have irregular cycles – there are other options
- interpretation must be done by a skilled practitioner
- it’s expensive and not covered by medicare or private health insurance
Overall, I am finding it a valuable test along all the biomedical testing to support women’s health, fertility and IVF support and forms part of my Comprehensive Fertility Assessment appointment.
If you would like to know more about DUTCH and your hormone health, please send me an email – hello@paigewatersacupuncture.com.au.
Kindest,
Paige
