If you’ve been snapping at your kids for no reason, crying over a cereal commercial, or wondering why your workouts feel harder than they used to… your hormones might be waving a white flag.
And if your go-to labs keep coming back “normal,” but you still feel off? It might be time to look deeper with DUTCH functional hormone testing.
Because if you’re stuck in a cycle of fatigue, mood swings, period problems, stubborn weight gain, poor sleep, or that “wired but tired” buzz you can’t shake—something deeper is going on.
And standard bloodwork isn’t going to tell the whole story.
Which is where DUTCH testing comes in.
What is DUTCH Functional Hormone Testing?
DUTCH stands for Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones. But what it really gives you is a full picture of your reproductive and stress hormones.
It tells us:
- How much of each hormone you’re producing
- How you’re metabolizing and detoxing those hormones
- What your stress hormones (cortisol + DHEA) are doing across the day
- How well your body is making melatonin
- Clues about nutrient status, neurotransmitter production, and detox capacity through organic acids
Essentially, DUTCH functional hormone testing helps you understand why your hormone symptoms are happening—and what to do about it.
Because your body isn’t just being “hormonal.” It’s asking for help.
What Makes DUTCH Different?
Unlike standard labs that capture one isolated moment, DUTCH shows how your hormones rise and fall through the day and across your cycle. That rhythm matters. Because it’s often the rhythm, not the number, that’s off.
And when the rhythm is off?
- You feel “wired” at night and can’t fall asleep
- You wake up exhausted, even after 8 hours
- You feel edgy, emotional, or anxious for no clear reason
- You’re dealing with irregular, painful, or heavy periods
- You’re gaining weight (especially around your belly) despite eating “healthy”
This isn’t just about numbers. It’s about context, and your body’s capacity to respond, adapt, and stay in balance.
How DUTCH Functional Hormone Testing Works
There are no blood draws, and no chasing down appointments. You do need to carve out an entire day where you can follow the schedule of the test, and the day of your cycle matters when you collect your sample, so it does take a little planning, but you can do it all at home!
Here’s what to expect:
1. Collect a sample – Depending on which DUTCH test you’re completing, there are either urine samples to collect at specific times during the day on special, enclosed filter paper, saliva samples to collect in included test tubes, or both. Everything you need to collect your samples easily are included in the test. Clear, concise instructions are also included in the test kit, so you can confidently collect your samples correctly.
2. Mail your samples to the lab (prepaid envelope included) – Once you collect your test samples, you mail it off and then wait to hear back from your provider.
3. Receive results – The lab will send me your results in about 1-2 weeks. The results provide detailed insights into your reproductive and stress hormones and I review your results through the lens of your unique symptoms, lifestyle, and goals.
4. Get personalized recommendations – You receive a personalized protocol with clear, real-life steps—based on what your body is actually asking for, not a generic cookie cutter hormone balancing set of supplements.
Common Questions about DUTCH Functional Hormone Testing
Q: Why not just get blood work or saliva testing?
A: Blood tests give us a single snapshot in time. Saliva can show cortisol rhythms, but DUTCH gives a more complete picture, including hormone breakdowns and nutrient markers.
Here’s the difference:
- Blood work = one isolated snapshot in time, on the day that you get it drawn
- Saliva testing (including DUTCH adrenal panel) = shows cortisol rhythm, but not hormone metabolism
- DUTCH testing = hormone levels + detox pathways + nutrient status + full-day rhythm
Blood work and saliva testing can tell you what is happening, but full DUTCH functional hormone testing can tell you WHY.
Q: How do I know if I need this test?
A: If you’ve tried “all the things” and still feel off… if your symptoms don’t match your labs… or if you just want to stop guessing and get a clear plan—this test can help uncover what’s been missed.
It might be time to test if:
- You feel exhausted, wired, or like you’re running on fumes
- Your period is unpredictable, painful, or totally missing
- PMS hits like a freight train (anxiety, insomnia, cravings… all of it)
- Your libido is gone—and honestly, you barely miss it because you’re too tired
- You’ve gained weight and nothing seems to move the needle
- You keep hearing “your labs are normal” but you still feel like a mess
This test is especially powerful for active women and tired moms who’ve been told to just “relax” or take the pill.
Because when you’ve done everything “right” and still feel off—your body’s not failing you. You’re just missing the full story.
Still not sure? Grab my Functional Testing Guide for more or fill out a free personalized nutrition assessment to see if DUTCH functional hormone testing is right for you.
Q: How often should I retest?
A: Typically every 3–6 months if you’re actively working on rebalancing. But this depends on your goals, symptoms, and healing pace.
Q: What about “adrenal fatigue?”
A: Let’s clear this up: “adrenal fatigue” isn’t a real medical diagnosis, but HPA axis dysregulation? That’s real—and I see it all the time. Whether your cortisol is spiking at the wrong times or totally bottomed out, DUTCH testing shows the pattern. And that pattern matters.
Because when cortisol is off, it drags everything else—thyroid, sex hormones, energy, metabolism—down with it.
Fixing that rhythm? It’s often the first domino in feeling better.
How I Do DUTCH Functional Hormone Testing Differently
This is not the place to get standardized hormone protocols. I do not have one set of answers for estrogen dominance or poor cortisol awakening response. Every single protocol recommendation I put together is personalized to your data in combination with your health history, your main concerns, and your ideal outcomes. DUTCH hormone and adrenal testing is a tool to help us get to the root cause, but it is not the sole determinant of what treatment plan I recommend.
Bottom Line
You’re not lazy. You’re not broken. And you’re definitely not crazy.
But you might be depleted. Dysregulated. Or running on a hormonal system that’s been out of sync for years.
DUTCH functional hormone testing helps us finally understand what your body’s been trying to say.
And when we pair it with HTMA mineral testing (like I do in BLOOM), we can see the full picture—how your stress, minerals, hormones, and energy systems are interacting. That’s where true clarity begins.
Getting started with DUTCH Functional Hormone Testing
If you’re done guessing, done being dismissed, and ready to feel like yourself again—I’d love to show you what’s possible.
Let’s stop patching symptoms and start supporting the whole system.
Have questions about DUTCH testing or want to explore whether it’s right for you? Start with a personalized functional nutrition assessment or learn more about how to order one here.
