The DUTCH Test: What It Reveals About Your Hormones and Stress Levels
If you’ve been told your hormone labs are “normal” yet you still don’t feel like yourself, it might be time to ask for a deeper look. At Rapha Wellness, we use advanced diagnostics to uncover root causes—and one of the most powerful tools in our toolbox is the DUTCH Test (Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones).
What Makes the DUTCH Test Different
Unlike standard hormone blood tests that capture a single snapshot, the DUTCH Test uses multiple urine and saliva samples collected over several days to map your hormone levels and metabolites. This provides a more complete picture of your hormone activity. On the hormone therapy page at Rapha Wellness we explain that the DUTCH Test “analyses hormone metabolites” and “offers a more detailed view of hormone fluctuations compared to traditional blood tests.”
Key features of the DUTCH Test include:
Analysis of both active hormones (like estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, cortisol) and their metabolites, which give insight into how your body is processing and clearing them.
Comprehensive assessment of reproductive and adrenal hormones, making it useful for conditions like PCOS, perimenopause, menopause, infertility, and chronic stress.
A home collection kit that allows you to collect samples in the convenience of your daily routine, making the process easier and less disruptive.
Why It Matters
Hormones govern much of your body’s functioning—your mood, sleep, energy, metabolism, and even how your body handles stress. When hormone levels are off or your body isn’t processing them properly, symptoms often follow: brain fog, mood swings, weight issues, fatigue, sleep trouble. Because these symptoms overlap with many conditions, the DUTCH Test gives functional medicine providers the clarity to look beyond the obvious.
For example, if your cortisol rhythm is inverted (too high at night, too low in the morning), you might have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. If your estrogen metabolites are skewed, it could impact your mood, skin, or even how you store fat. The DUTCH Test uncovers these nuances—information that standard labs often miss.
How We Use the DUTCH Test at Rapha Wellness
After reviewing your health history, symptoms, and standard labs, we may recommend the DUTCH Test when we suspect hormone and stress‐related imbalances. Once we receive your report, we interpret the results to tailor a treatment plan that may include:
Personalized bioidentical hormone therapy to correct specific hormone deficiencies or imbalances (as noted in our hormone therapy service description).
Lifestyle and stress‐management strategies to support adrenal health and proper cortisol rhythm.
Nutritional and supplement support to enhance hormone metabolism and detoxification pathways.
Ongoing monitoring of hormone markers to ensure your therapy remains effective and responsive to your body’s needs.
Final Thoughts
If you’re living with persistent symptoms of hormone imbalance and you’ve been told your labs are just “fine,” the DUTCH Test might be the next step worth exploring. It’s not just about numbers—it’s about patterns and metabolism, and understanding what your body is doing beneath the surface. At Rapha Wellness, we believe your body isn’t broken—it’s asking for balance. Through modern diagnostics meeting functional wellness, we help you listen—and respond—with precision.
Want to learn more about whether the DUTCH Test is right for you? Let’s connect and uncover what your hormones are trying to tell you.
