DUTCH Complete Hormone Test Review – Is it Worth It?

At-Home Hormone Testing

DUTCH Complete is a hormone test offered by Precision Analytical (DUTCH) that measures a comprehensive range of hormones and their metabolites in dried urine samples. This test is intended for both men and women.

This test is popular among integrative health practitioners and some endocrinologists, though it’s typically not covered by health insurance. You’ll need to purchase it online. Details on how to do that are shared below.

Who This Test is Ideal For

The DUTCH test is ideal for anyone concerned about their hormone levels. Men often face testosterone issues, while many women, even in their 30s, experience imbalances in female hormones.

If you have sleep issues or concerns about cortisol spikes, this test can provide valuable insights. It’s comprehensive, with samples taken multiple times a day—early morning, hours later, evening, and during your nighttime awakening—offering detailed data on how your hormone levels fluctuate throughout the day and night.

Hormones It Tests

Here’s a breakdown of what it tests for:

• Sex Hormones: This includes estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and their metabolites.
• Adrenal Hormones: Cortisol and its metabolites are measured to assess adrenal function and circadian rhythm. Issues here can cause fatigue, difficulty sleeping, and stress sensitivity.
• Organic Acids: Insight into nutritional deficiencies, oxidative stress, gut dysbiosis, and neurotransmitter function.

Price & How To Order It

The DUTCH Complete test is available on various websites, typically priced around $500. However, DHA Laboratory offers it at a reduced price of $350, which has remained consistent for years.

I first purchased tests from DHA Laboratory over a decade ago. They are a reputable company with very fast shipping. They also provide a range of other affordable out-of-pocket tests if you wish to add more.

How It Works

This is a test that needs to be ordered by a doctor, and DHA Laboratory has one there to sign off on your order and put it through.

You just place the order and their doctor will approve it and put the order through for you and it will be shipped out right away.

Whenever I’ve ordered, it usually arrives within a few days. You’ll complete the test at home and return it using the provided mailer, with shipping costs covered by them. Results are typically emailed securely within a few weeks.

Type of Test and Collection

This is a dried urine test. They provide very detailed instructions for you, and you need to follow them in order to get accurate results. For example, you need to limit the amount of liquids you drink on the day of your test.

• Collection: You’ll collect a urine sample onto the cards they provide, at the times they recommend.
• Drying it Out: Once you’ve collected the urine sample on the card, you let it dry completely.

Special Instructions For Females

Read the directions thoroughly so you do the test at the right time of the month, according to your cycle. If you had a hysterectomy, you would need to test for ovulation and based on that timeframe, DUTCH instructions will provide you details as to when you should do the DUTCH test. I believe it’s usually one week after ovulation. I highly recommend the Premom ovulation test strips for this because they are affordable at $10+/- and provide you with 25 tests, plus an app to give you the results. I know this is a lot of work to prepare for the DUTCH test, but it’s worth it if you really want to understand your health and hormones. There are also additional instructions for women who have already gone through menopause.

My Experiences

I just did this test recently and my doctor is looking over the results right now. I also did the test four years ago, so this provides some really helpful data, showing how things have changed since the other test. For women who start to have hormone fluctuations, it may be beneficial to do hormone replacement therapy before things worsen too much. So that’s why this may be especially helpful. Other than my personal experiences with this test, I have a guy friend who has done this test, and who has ordered it from the same place. He too has been really happy with the purchase because it’s given him and his doctor insights into his health and hormones.

The Results are Complex

The results are highly detailed, so it helps significantly if you have a doctor who is familiar with the tests. If you’re struggling to find a good doctor, I highly recommend finding an integrative health doctor through your local clinic or health system. Insurance covers these types of appointments for many people in the U.S.

If you don’t have that and have trouble finding a good concierge doctor to help you out, then you could always use AI to help assist you in interpreting the data. This is not medical advice or even sound advice, but it’s an option. The last time I had the DUTCH test done, out of curiosity I copied and pasted a lot of the data into Chatgpt and asked it for an interpretation. It gave me some really interesting information and basically helped me to organize the data and results.

Lastly, on the DUTCH website they offer a variety of helpful videos that were created to teach doctors how to interpret the results, but you can also watch them and benefit from them. In addition to that, they provide you with a written explanation and analysis of your results below all the charts.