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DUTCH (Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones)
How to order your DUTCH Test
Hello there! I’m Stephen Ward (MSc) from Fairfield Nutrition.
Our DUTCH hormone testing offers a comprehensive analysis of various health aspects, including adrenal dysregulation (adrenal fatigue), sex hormone balance, nutrient levels, and detoxification processes. This advanced testing method provides insights that enable us to tailor a personalised health plan for you.
Whilst we are based in Australia, we service the US and ship our DUTCH test kits from the US and the samples are processed by the US Lab (Precision Analytical).
When you choose Fairfield Nutrition for your DUTCH hormone testing, you’ll receive a one-hour consultation with me or a personalised video interpretation. During our session, we’ll interpret your results, identify underlying causes of any hormonal imbalances, and develop a strategy to restore your body’s equilibrium.
Unlike standard tests at a general practitioner’s office, our hormone tests analyse 35 different hormones, giving us a more complete understanding of your body’s functions. This can help us detect imbalances that may contribute to issues like weight gain, skin problems, and cognitive difficulties.
We’ll also examine your cortisol patterns, a hormone related to stress, throughout the day, and include markers for essential vitamins and sleep hormone, melatonin. You can conveniently perform the test at home, and I’ll send you a brief questionnaire to further personalise your results and recommendations.
Order the DUTCH Test
When is the DUTCH Plus a better solution?
In addition to everything offered in the Sex Hormones Only test, the DUTCH Plus includes the Cortisol Awakening Response (CAR). This can help address adrenal-related symptoms such as:
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The DUTCH Plus test also tests a set of markers called organic acids, which sex hormone testing doesn’t. This includes Melatonin, oxidative stress, adrenaline, dopamine and Vitamin B6, B12 and Glutathione levels.
Prices includes either a personalised video interpretation or a 1 hour consultation with myself to review your results and offer nutrition and lifestyle advice
Frequently Asked Questions
Which test should I do?
For most people the DUTCH Plus test is recommended as it measures before adrenal, sex hormones and the cortisol awakening response (CAR). The CAR is useful to help identify ‘adrenal fatigue’.
For women who want to measure their sex hormones (Estrogen, Progesterone, Testosteronem DHEA) and how they are cleared from the body, the DUTCH hormone only test is available. However, if finances allow I would recommend the DUTCH Plus test as measuring the adrenal hormones provides a complete picture of hormonal health. By measuring cortisol throughout the day, we can see how ‘stressed’ the body is, and this is impacts everything that goes on in the body.
The DUTCH cycle mapping is for women that have typically long or short cycles, or are wanting to see how their hormones may be impacting fertility. This option maps Estrogen and Progesterone at intervals throughout a whole cycle.
For women, when do I complete my DUTCH Plus test?
Timing the menstrual cycle for proper collection can be challenging for those women who do not follow a typical 28-day month. Some women have short cycles, others have long cycles, a few vacillate between short and long months and finally there are those who still “cycle” from their ovaries but do not actually bleed. Here is a quick guideline to help determine the best days to do the DUTCH test.
Typical 28-day cycle:
Ideally the DUTCH complete or sex hormone test is done on days 19, 20, 21, or 22 (or 5-7 days after ovulation is the goal) if the first day of bleeding is considered day 1.
Short Cycle:
Adjust the collection by the number of days a woman is short of 28 days.
For example, if she has 25 day cycles, collect on days 16, 17, 18, or 19.
Long cycle:
Adjust the collection by the number of days a woman is beyond the 28 days.
For example, if she has a 40-day cycle, she would collect on days 31, 32, 33, or 34.
Irregular cycle:
If she does not bleed regularly or skips months (such as in peri-menopause), first try testing for ovulation.
This is done using ovulation predictor kits (OPK) bought at any pharmacy or grocery store. Urinate on one every morning until positive. Once there is a positive OPK it means she is likely to ovulate very soon. Stop collecting the OPK, wait 5-7 days and collect the DUTCH complete or sex hormone test.
If no ovulation/positive OPK occurs the first month and she does not get her period, try again the 2nd month.
If no ovulation or period occurs after 60 days, consider just testing the DUTCH complete or sex hormone test on any day but be aware that the estrogen and progesterone levels will likely be low (or in the menopausal range depending on her age).
If she suddenly has her period, do not do the OPK kits. Count forward from day 1 of her bleeding and collect on days 19, 20 or 21.
If she collected the DUTCH test and started her period the next day or two afterwards unexpectedly, throw out the test (or call the lab to let us know to disregard it if it was mailed) and start over with a new test collecting on day 19, 20 or 21.
Also consider doing the DUTCH cycle mapping by collecting strips throughout the entire month.
No Menstrual Cycle:
Some women may not bleed every month due to the Mirena IUD, partial hysterectomy or an ablation yet they still have their ovaries and produce hormones in a regular fashion. In addition, those women in peri-menopause might be so close to true menopause that they skip several periods at a time (ie. only bleeding every few months at random). If this occurs, try following the “irregular cycle” suggestions above with the OPK test or consider doing the DUTCH cycle mapping throughout the month.
Peri menopausal women who have skipped 3 or more months can decide with their health care provider if the OPK is necessary as they are likely near true menopause and are not ovulating. Therefore, the DUTCH test can be collected on any day.
Menopausal Woman:
Women who have not had their menstrual cycle in 12 consecutive months are considered menopausal. They do not ovulate and are not bleeding every month. As a result, they are able to collect their DUTCH test on any day of the month per their health care provider. The DUTCH cycle mapping is not advised in menopausal women.
Men:
Men can collect the DUTCH test on any day of the month per their health care provider.
For women, should I do a DUTCH test when I’m taking the birth control pill?
The birth control pill (ring and implants) stops the FSH and LH surge from the pituitary to prevent an estrogen rise and ovulation (thus progesterone production) from the ovary. If you hormone test when on the pill, estrogen and progesterone should be quite low. That means the pill is doing its job and she is not likely to become pregnant.
The short answer is…you can test the Dutch Adrenal while on the birth control pill however testing the sex-hormones has diminished value. Please contact me if you would like to order the DUTCH adrenal only test.
The DUTCH test may not necessarily be the right test for you – I suggest talking to me to discuss your options..
Is this test appropriate after menopause and when do I do the test?
Menopause is signaled by 12 months since last menstruation. The Dutch Plus Test is appropriate and there is no need to do the Cycle Mapping test.
The test report gives menopausal ranges for the sex hormones which can be compared with your results. So yes, the test is appropriate and indicates among other things, your estrogen to progesterone ratio, how you are clearing estrogen from the body, and your adrenal hormones throughout the day. As you are not
ovulating or bleeding every month, you can collect your DUTCH Plus test on any day of the month.
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Stephen is a very thorough practitioner who works hard to get to the root cause. He has helped me immensely.
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Highly recommend, excellent service, holistic and client centered. My overall health and wellness has improved in a short space of time. Thanks, Stephen
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