DUTCH Hormone Testing – 5 Real Client Stories
DUTCH Hormone Testing
How one simple at-home test helped five women finally get answers – and a clear, personalised path forward.
Introduction
When it comes to hormones, symptoms alone rarely tell the whole story. Two women in their forties can both arrive at a clinic reporting poor sleep, low mood and weight that won’t budge, and yet the underlying hormonal picture can be completely different. That is why I use the DUTCH Complete hormone test as a cornerstone of my practice.
“The DUTCH test doesn’t just measure your hormone levels – it reveals how your body is producing, using and clearing them.”
I am often asked whether hormone testing is really necessary, or whether the right food and lifestyle changes can simply be applied to the symptoms described. Symptoms point us in the right direction, but test results show us exactly where to go. Without that detail, we risk addressing the wrong problem, and potentially making things worse.
Over the years I have seen clients who were told to add HRT when their oestrogen was already too high. I have seen women taking progesterone who were not sleeping any better, because their body was routing the hormone down the wrong metabolic pathway. And I have seen women convinced they had PCOS who, once tested, turned out to have a very different picture altogether.
In this article, I am sharing five real client cases – with all details anonymised – to show you the kinds of answers a DUTCH test can provide, and how a targeted nutrition and lifestyle programme, rooted in those results, can make a meaningful difference.
ABOUT THE TEST
What is the DUTCH Hormone Test?DUTCH stands for Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones. It is a simple, at-home urine test that involves collecting four small samples over a 24-hour period – no blood draws, no clinic visits. Unlike a standard blood test, which typically measures hormone levels at a single point in time, the DUTCH test shows how your hormones are being metabolised – meaning, how your body is processing and clearing them. This makes it uniquely powerful for uncovering the root causes of hormone-related symptoms. The test provides detailed insight across: • Oestrogen & metabolites • Progesterone • Testosterone • DHEA & cortisol patterns • Melatonin • Key neurotransmitters • B6, B12 & glutathione markers • Oxidative stress indicators |
5 Questions the DUTCH Test Answered
All client details have been anonymised to protect privacy.
Case 1 Woman, 45 – PerimenopausalQuestion: Is HRT right for me? KEY FINDINGS The DUTCH test revealed elevated oestrogen levels and an oestrogen metabolism pattern directing the hormone down an inflammatory pathway. This was contributing to resistant weight loss, an overactive immune response and worsening perimenopausal symptoms. TARGETED PROGRAMME A targeted nutrition and supplement plan was introduced to actively reduce oestrogen levels and redirect oestrogen metabolism away from the inflammatory pathway, using specific foods and evidence based supplementation. KEY TAKEAWAY ✦ Adding HRT would have increased already-high oestrogen levels, worsening perimenopause symptoms rather than relieving them. This client’s results clearly showed that HRT was not the right choice, at least not yet. She was motivated to follow her programme and plans to retest to reassess in future. |
Case 2 Woman, 55 – On Combined HRTQuestion: Am I on the correct dosage – and why isn’t my HRT working? KEY FINDINGS Both oestrogen and progesterone levels were within normal range, confirming good HRT absorption. However, progesterone was being metabolised down an unhelpful pathway, meaning it wasn’t delivering its sleep supporting and mood lifting benefits. Cortisol levels were also dysregulated; low in the morning and elevated at night, disrupting both sleep quality and energy. TARGETED PROGRAMME Specific nutrients and foods were introduced to redirect progesterone metabolism towards its beneficial pathway. A targeted lifestyle and exercise programme was also created to restore a healthy diurnal cortisol rhythm and improve sleep. KEY TAKEAWAY ✦ This client did not need a higher HRT dose. She was absorbing her medication well. The key was optimising how her body was processing and using the hormones it already had, something only a DUTCH test could reveal. |
Case 3 Woman, 33 – Irregular Cycles & Severe PMSQuestion: Why are my PMS symptoms so debilitating? KEY FINDINGS Results showed oestrogen dominance, elevated oestrogen levels and low progesterone – a combination closely linked with irregular cycles and severe PMS. The test also identified a deficiency in vitamin B6 (which supports progesterone production) and glutathione (a key antioxidant involved in oestrogen clearance). TARGETED PROGRAMME A plan rich in B6 and vitamin C to support progesterone, cruciferous and sulphurous vegetables to aid oestrogen detoxification, targeted glutathione supplementation, and calming lifestyle habits to further support hormone balance. KEY TAKEAWAY ✦ Severe PMS is not simply a hormone imbalance, it is often rooted in specific nutrient deficiencies that impair the body’s ability to produce, metabolise and clear hormones. Identifying and addressing these deficiencies through food and supplementation can bring significant relief. |
Case 4 Woman, 41 – Symptoms Without HRTQuestion: What can I do without going on HRT? KEY FINDINGS All three sex hormones – oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone – were low. Phase 2 oestrogen metabolism was also depressed. Key neurotransmitter markers suggested a chronic stress response pattern, with elevated cortisol keeping the body in a prolonged fight or flight state and further suppressing hormone production. TARGETED PROGRAMME A tailored plan to gently support oestrogen (flaxseeds and phytoestrogens), boost progesterone (citrus fruits and calming practices), raise testosterone (maca, zinc and strength training), and support the nervous system shift towards a rest and digest response. KEY TAKEAWAY ✦ HRT is not the only route to hormone balance. When a client chooses not to take it, a DUTCH test allows us to build a highly targeted, evidence based alternative, addressing each imbalance precisely rather than guessing at the cause. |
Case 5 Woman, 37 – Thyroid & PCOS ConcernsQuestion: Do I have PCOS, and is my thyroid affecting my hormones? KEY FINDINGS Oestrogen and testosterone were both very low for her age, consistent with known thyroid-hormone interactions. Progesterone levels were healthy. However, cortisol was significantly elevated, which aligned with her symptoms of belly fat, fatigue, brain fog and poor sleep. Importantly, the test provided no indication of PCOS, resolving a diagnosis she had been unsure about for years. TARGETED PROGRAMME Foods to support thyroid function (such as broccoli sprouts), phytoestrogens to gently boost oestrogen, strength training and zinc to support testosterone, plus specific lifestyle interventions to lower cortisol including 10 minutes of outdoor light exposure within the first hour of waking. KEY TAKEAWAY ✦ A DUTCH test can identify the underlying causes of complex, overlapping symptoms far more quickly and accurately than symptoms alone. In this case, it also provided much-needed clarity on a diagnosis that had been causing significant anxiety. |
Conclusion
Hormones are rarely straightforward. The same symptom can stem from very different causes, and the same intervention can help one woman while making another feel worse. That is not a flaw in the process, it is the reality of how individual our biochemistry is.
What I hope these five cases illustrate is the power of looking beneath the surface. Every one of these clients came with real, sometimes debilitating symptoms. Without testing, some might have been prescribed something that made things worse. Others might have tried supplement after supplement with no clear direction. Instead, the DUTCH test gave us a precise, personalised map, and from there we could build a programme with real purpose.
Whether you are considering HRT and want to know if it is right for you, already on HRT and wondering why you are not feeling better, struggling with PMS, anxious and sleeping badly despite taking progesterone, or simply trying to understand a complex hormonal picture involving your thyroid or potential PCOS, there is an answer available to you.
The DUTCH test is a simple, at-home urine test involving just four samples collected over a 24-hour period. It is one of the most comprehensive hormone tests available, and it forms the foundation of the personalised programmes I offer. If you are ready to stop guessing and start understanding what is really going on with your hormones, I would love to help.
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Ready to Find Your Answers? Interested in discovering what a DUTCH test could reveal for you? Get in touch to start with a free discovery call. |
About the Author Angela Loftus Nutritional Therapist & Functional Medicine Practitioner Angela is a registered nutritional therapist specialising in women’s hormone health, perimenopause and functional medicine. She works with clients online and from her clinic in Chorleywood, Hertfordshire, helping women at every stage of life restore balance and thrive. |
Disclaimer: The case studies above are anonymised and presented for educational purposes. This article does not constitute medical advice. Always consult your GP or a qualified healthcare professional before making changes to any prescribed medication.