What is the DUTCH Test?
I remember when I was diagnosed with Depression during the start of the pandemic. There were a lot of mental factors that went into that diagnosis – I just moved away from family and friends, I was finishing up graduate school, I had been furloughed, and of course a pandemic with a virus on the loose that we did not have much knowledge of at the time. All the *fun* things that definitely did some damage. What I did not realize is that while I was treating my mental health with therapy, it was my hormonal health that was not allowing me to make much progress. My mindset was clear, but I did not have enough strength nor energy to do anything. It wasn’t until I was casually talking with a Naturna practitioner that I realized I should look at my hormone and mineral levels. Sure enough after requesting an extra testing done on my blood-work that I found out I had extremely low iron. Low iron levels, especially if left untreated, can negatively affect your hormonal level which is one of the factors that can lead to depression or depression-like symptoms.
Enter hormone testing – something I wish I did sooner so that I could not only treat my mental ailments, but also my biological ailments. There are many different types out there, but for the purpose of this blog, we will be focusing on the DUTCH Test. The DUTCH Test is great for anyone who wants a deep dive into their own hormonal health.
The DUTCH Test, an acronym for “Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones,” looks at your hormonal levels via dried urine sample. Specifically thorough hormonal metabolites which showcases how your body is breaking down hormonal reactions. This non-invasive procedure can be done in the comfort of your own home. Essentially, you would collect your urine throughout various times in a day via filtered paper, and then have it shipped off to the laboratory to be analyzed. Depending on the type of DUTCH Test you choose, you can also provide saliva samples. Some of the hormones the DUTCH Test looks at are estrogen, DHEA, metabolites, melatonin, and progesterone.
This is different from a blood test, because a blood test may tell you your hormone levels, but the DUTCH Test will tell you how your body uses your hormones on top of your hormone levels. For example, the DUTCH Test can look at your adrenal presentation (the different hormones in your adrenal glands) and see how much of the cortisol (hello number one stress hormone) in your body is being used, how is it reacting to your body’s enzymes, how much cortisol is available, and overall how is your body handling its cortisol production.
If you are suffering from fatigue (calling myself out here), mood swings, PMS, fertility issues, PCOS, weight-related issues, acne, hair loss, inflammation, and/or low motivation, the DUTCH Test is a great resource to see where those symptoms could be stemming from. One thing to note is that if you are an ovulating female or if you are going through IVF/IUI, or if you are taking a ton of supplements, there is an optimal time to take the DUTCH Test. It is best to consult your practitioner not just for your results to see how you can optimize yourself, but also prior to taking the DUTCH Test so you can prepare and choose a test that best fits you and your health goals. Contact Naturna today to ask for more information about the DUTCH Test or to schedule your appointment with one of our practitioners!
