What is the Dutch Complete Test?

The DUTCH Complete by Precision Analytical is the most advanced hormone test, offering an extensive profile of sex and adrenal hormones and melatonin, along with their metabolites, to identify symptoms of hormonal imbalances.

What does the DUTCH Test measure?

✓ Cortisol and Cortisone production and graphs showing your Daily Free cortisol and cortisone patterns

✓ Cortisol Metabolites

✓ Progesterone metabolites (2)

✓ Estrone, Estradiol, Estriol and Estrogen metabolites

✓ Testosterone, DHEA-S and Androgen metabolites

✓ Melatonin

✓Organic Acid Testing (OAT) markers including oxidative stress marker 8-Hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), vitamin B12 (methylmalonate), vitamin B6 (xanthurenate and kynurenate), glutathione (pyroglutamate), and gut dysbiosis (indican), as well as neurotransmitter markers such as dopamine (homovanillate), norepinephrine/epinephrine (vanilmandelate), and serotonin (quinolinate).

Why is it important to test and balance hormones?

Since the HPA Axis and steroidal hormones including cortisol are involved in almost every physiological and metabolic process and affect all of the major systems of the body (including the cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, nervous, and immune systems), assessing HPA Axis function and correcting imbalances can be essential to restoring health.

 The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is a part of the endocrine system and key to regulating our response to chronic stress. When actual or perceived stress occurs, the HPA axis is activated and cortisol is released. Cortisol is responsible for increasing blood glucose levels, repairing tissue, and reducing inflammation among other benefits. Although this stress response protects the body in the short-term and helps ensure our survival, the continual activation of these systems can cause HPA dysfunction and hormone imbalances that damage the body and may ultimately lead to the development of disease. The body chooses the immediate need for survival over long-term health and wellness. Unfortunately, in today’s high-paced modern world, where we are under chronic stress on a daily basis (dealing with rush hour traffic or deadlines at work) our fight or flight response is constantly being activated, which puts strain on our systems and wreaks havoc on our hormones. Reducing stress while correcting hormone imbalances detected on the DUTCH Complete may help strengthen the body and decrease the risk of further damage.

Why is the DUTCH test more useful than a saliva hormone test?

According to the Precision Analytics, the top three benefits of the DUTCH testing over salivary testing are the comprehensive cortisol analysis (combining the free cortisol pattern with the metabolites of cortisol), the addition of estrogen metabolites (2-OH, 4-OH, 16-OH, and methylation activity), and improved estrogen accuracy. Estradiol levels are about 1,000 times lower in saliva than urine, making salivary estrogen testing difficult and more prone to inaccuracy.

Because it is a urine test, and urine contains hormone metabolites, the DUTCH Test is able to provide insight not only about hormone levels but about how the body is using its hormones which is valuable when determining whether estrogen is being metabolized in a protective or harmful way. Alterations in the normal metabolic pathways for estrogen can lead to health problems, including estrogen dominance and certain cancers such as breast, cervical and uterine cancers.

What are some common symptoms of hormonal imbalances?

Depending on your situation, you may experience some of the following symptoms:

• Symptoms of chronically decreased cortisol may include low blood sugar, low blood pressure, fatigue, inability to get throught the day withour caffeine, sleep problems, dizziness, pain, inflammation, low libido, allergies, salt cravings, inability to handle stress, depression, anxiety, and poor memory.

• Symptoms of chronically elevated cortisol may include high blood sugar, insulin resistance, poor immunity, digestion problems, insomnia, anxiety, poor memory, heart palpitations, weight gain, decreased muscle mass, poor wound healing, and “second wind” of energy at night.

• Symptoms of high testosterone in women may cause loss of scalp hair, increased body and facial hair, acne, and oily skin.

• Symptoms of estrogen dominance in women may cause symptoms such as decreased sex drive, irregular periods, PMS, endometriosis, fibrocystic breasts, brain fog, insomnia, depression, mood swings, fatigue, irritability, bloating, water retention, acne, headaches, weight gain, and hair loss.

• Symptoms of estrogen dominance and/or low testosterone in men may include abdominal weight gain, lethargy, fatigue, brain fog, insomnia, mood swings, irritability, low libido, depression, enlarged breast tissue, anxiety, and erectile dysfunction. It may also raise the risk for prostate enlargement.

Can Men Benefit from taking the DUTCH Complete?

Absolutely! Anyone that is dealing with symptoms of hormonal imbalance or chronic stress can benefit from the DUTCH test. Men commonly lose about 1-2% of testosterone yearly after the age of 30. As testosterone (and DHEA) levels fall and estrogen levels rise due to many factors including environmental estrogens and liver congestion, they can undergo their own form of menopause called “andropause”. The Dutch test allows us to check the balance of testosterone and estrogen and also see if testosterone is being converted excessively into estrogen through an enzyme called aromatase. Balancing estrogen and androgen hormones may help decrease some of the symptoms of estrogen dominance in men.

How do I correct imbalances found on the DUTCH test?

Based on the results of your test, we’ll recommend a combination of diet and lifestyle changes along with natural supplements (which could include bio-identical hormones made from plants) that may help support the HPA Axis and improve hormone health. We may also suggest ways to work on improving underlying problems that can be contributing to any imbalances.

Please note that we do not give medical advice nor prescribe treatment including HRT and that, although nutritional support may compliment medical care, it is not a substitute for the diagnosis and treatment by a medical provider. Our goal is to provide education to enhance your knowledge of health as it relates to diet, lifestyle modifications, and supplements.

How do I get started?

Click the button below to be directed to our services page where you can purchase the program. Once you’ve made your purchase, you will receive an email within a day with information on how to proceed . Your test kit will be shipped directly to your home address with instructions on how to take the urine samples.