Struggling with Hormonal Imbalance or Infertility?
As a naturopathic doctor specializing in women’s hormonal health and fertility, two of the most common things I hear from my clients are:
“My OBGYN tested my hormones and they’re normal but I still feel like my hormones are off.”
OR
“My OBGYN tested my hormones and they’re normal but I’m still not getting pregnant.”
If you’re experiencing irregular cycles, PMS, fatigue, stubborn weight gain, low libido, or trouble conceiving, and have been told that everything looks “fine”, you’re not alone AND you’re not crazy. I promise you that there’s more than can be done. Generally speaking, the testing your OBGYN is running is likely not as comprehensive as it needs to be for us to get a full picture of what your hormones are doing (sometimes I’ve seen hormone tests ordered and the woman is not even told testing needs to be at specific points of her cycle, yikes!).
One of the most powerful tools I use in my clinical practice is the DUTCH Complete urine test. It offers an in-depth look at your hormonal landscape, which is something that blood work alone often can’t provide. I love using functional hormone testing to help get to the root of hormonal imbalance and find this test incredibly valuable, especially for women who feel unheard or unseen in the conventional medical system when it comes to their hormones and fertility.
What Is the DUTCH Complete Test?
DUTCH stands for Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones. It’s a lab test that collects multiple urine samples over a 24-hour period, allowing us to assess not just your hormone levels, but also how your body is processing and metabolizing them.
Unlike a single blood draw that gives us a snapshot in time, the DUTCH Complete shows us a full picture of your hormonal rhythm throughout the day and shows insight into your:
- Sex hormones: Estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA, and their metabolites
- Adrenal function: Cortisol and cortisone levels throughout the day
- Melatonin: Your sleep-wake hormone
- Organic acids: Indicators of B-vitamin status, neurotransmitter activity, and oxidative stress
Why Is the DUTCH Complete So Helpful for Women with Hormonal Imbalance?
Hormonal imbalance doesn’t happen in isolation. Your sex hormones, adrenal hormones, detox pathways, and even neurotransmitters all influence one another. The DUTCH test allows us to see that interplay clearly.
Here are some of the specific reasons why I recommend this test for women who are dealing with hormonal imbalance or trying to conceive:
1. The DUTCH Test Reveals Hidden Hormonal Imbalances
Many women I work with are unknowingly dealing with estrogen dominance, low progesterone, or androgen imbalances. These issues can manifest as:
- PMS and mood swings
- Painful or heavy periods
- Hormonal acne
- Weight gain or fluid retention
- Miscarriages or infertility
The DUTCH test doesn’t just measure hormone levels—it also shows how your body metabolizes estrogen through different detox pathways (2-OH, 4-OH, and 16-OH). This is critical for understanding your risk for estrogen-related issues like fibroids, endometriosis, and even hormone-sensitive cancers.
By identifying poor estrogen clearance or progesterone insufficiency, we can tailor a plan to naturally rebalance your hormones using targeted herbs, nutrition, and lifestyle interventions.
2. It Gives Us a Window into Your Stress Hormones and Adrenal Health
When you’re under chronic stress (and let’s be honest, who isn’t?), your adrenal glands pump out cortisol. Over time, that stress response can become dysregulated, leading to fatigue, sleep issues, anxiety, low libido, and worsened PMS or period problems.
The DUTCH Complete test provides a full adrenal hormone panel, tracking your cortisol rhythm over the course of the day. This helps determine whether you’re:
- Running on high cortisol (anxious, wired)
- In a state of adrenal fatigue (burned out, exhausted)
- Experiencing a reversed or flattened cortisol curve (trouble falling asleep or waking up)
Adrenal health is absolutely essential for hormone balance and fertility—because if your body thinks you’re in survival mode, it won’t prioritize reproduction. When cortisol is out of balance, it disrupts your ovulation, progesterone production, and thyroid function, all of which is crucial for conception and healthy cycles. The DUTCH test gives us the insight to bring your nervous system back into balance.
3. The DUTCH Test Supports Preconception and Fertility Planning
If you’re trying to conceive, the DUTCH Complete is an invaluable fertility assessment tool that can give insight into:
- Ovulatory function and luteal phase health
- Progesterone production
- Estrogen clearance and detoxification
- Stress hormone interference
- Androgens that may affect egg quality or ovulation
I’ve had clients who had “normal” bloodwork and regular cycles but were not ovulating robustly or had suboptimal progesterone levels during the luteal phase. The DUTCH test helped us uncover that and correct it, resulting in successful pregnancies.
It also gives us a chance to identify and correct issues before you start fertility treatments, potentially improving outcomes naturally or in conjunction with assisted reproductive technology (ART).
4. It Helps Provide Personalized, Root-Cause Solutions for Hormonal Imbalance
One of the most powerful things about the DUTCH test is that it helps you understand your body better.
When I review a DUTCH report with a client, it’s like turning on the lights in a dark room. Suddenly, there’s a “why” behind the symptoms. They finally feel empowered. From there, we can create a personalized healing plan that meets your body’s unique needs and targets the root-cause of your hormonal imbalance.
This isn’t about slapping on a one-size-fits-all solution. It’s about honoring your biochemistry and working with your body—not against it.
What Symptoms May Indicate You Need the DUTCH Test?
You might benefit from a DUTCH Complete test if you experience:
- Irregular or painful menstrual cycles
- Hormonal acne or hair loss
- Low energy and fatigue
- Anxiety, depression, or mood swings
- Infertility or recurrent miscarriage
- PCOS or endometriosis
- Poor sleep
- Low libido
- Unexplained weight gain or difficulty losing weight
How to Get Started with the DUTCH Hormone Test
If you’re wondering whether the DUTCH test is right for you, the best place to start is with a complimentary 15-minute alignment call with myself (Dr. Galante). If we decide the DUTCH test is a good fit, I’ll guide you through the process from sample collection to interpretation.
Once your results are in, we’ll create a personalized hormone balancing plan tailored to your goals, whether that’s clearer skin, regular cycles, better moods, or a healthy baby.
If you’ve been told your labs are “normal” but your body is telling a different story, please know your symptoms are valid. You deserve answers, not just bandaid solutions and we’re here to help!
Ready to Chat?
I offer complimentary 15-minute alignment calls where we can talk about your symptoms, your goals, and whether the DUTCH test fits into your healing journey.
Click here to schedule your call.
About the author:
I’m Dr. Desiree Galante, ND and I am a licensed naturopathic doctor specializing in women’s health and fertility optimization at Terrain Clinic. I use comprehensive hormone testing, functional medicine, and personalized nutrition to help my clients on their health journey.