DUTCH TESTING: Comprehensive Hormone Testing

Struggling to understand the root cause of your symptoms? It might be time take a comprehensive look at your hormones.

Our hormones are complicated. They change significantly throughout the day, throughout our cycle and throughout our lifetime.

Hormone testing is just as complicated.  I often see patients who come in with “normal” values on hormonal blood tests but are still experiencing symptoms of hormonal imbalances.

Blood tests aren't always the best indicator of hormone levels. On blood tests, we aren't able to test the hormonal cascade, flow throughout the day and detoxification pathways, therefore; we aren't getting the full picture.

That's why I use DUTCH testing often in my practice when we're looking for the root cause of hormonal concerns.

These include:

• fatigue

• weight gain

• low libido

• mood changes

• acne

• menopausal symptoms

• brain fog

• vaginal dryness

• painful intercourse

• hair thinning

• PCOS

• infertility

• irregular cycles

• PMS

That’s where DUTCH Testing comes in: the gold standard in hormone testing

DUTCH Testing, or the 'Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones', is a simple dried urine test that allows us to learn an extensive amount of information on your hormones.

Dutch Testing doesn’t just measure your hormone levels, it helps to tell me how your body produces hormones, breaks them down AND uses them throughout the day -giving us your full hormonal picture.⁣

Comprehensive hormone testing is one of the best ways to uncover the root cause of your concerns and guide treatment in the right direction.

We're able to test:

• Estrogen and 8 forms of estrogen metabolites

  • E1, E2, E3, 2-OH- E1, 4-OH-E1, 16-OH-E1, 2-methoxy-E1

  • This helps to tell us not only levels of estrogen, but how your body is breaking it down

  • 2 estrogen metabolites are associated with increase risk of breast and other cancers, while one is protective

  • We want to make sure your body is pushing down the protective pathway, not the harmful one

• Androgens

  • Including Testosterone, DHT and DHEA-S

  • This is important to take a deep dive into libido, weight gain, muscle mass, mood, increased facial or body hair growth and acne

• Progesterone

  • Progesterone declines during menopause but is important for reproductive health, neuroprotective for the brain and important for regulating mood

• Cortisol levels

  • This tests our body's stress hormone. Learn more about cortisol here

• Melatonin

  • Melatonin is our sleep hormone that allows you to get into a deep, restful + refreshing sleep.

  • As we age, we produce less melatonin

  • Melatonin production can also decreased also impacted if cortisol levels are high

• Organic acids

  • These are markers for neurotransmitters that effect mood, depression and anxiety

• The Cortisol Awakening Response

  • *learn why cortisol testing is important here*

• Markers for Vitamin B6 and B12 and other nutritional status

The best part - DUTCH Testing is a simple at home test!

 If you are interested in optimizing your hormonal health or comprehensive hormone testing, I am a Naturopathic Doctor virtually, and in person in Toronto and Vaughan and would love to help you reach your health goals. 

In health,

Dr. Courtney Ranieri, ND