DUTCH Hormone Testing in Toronto

Comprehensive Hormone Pattern Assessment

When it comes to hormone testing, standard blood work often provides a single snapshot in time.

DUTCH hormone testing (Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones) offers a broader view of hormone patterns, metabolism, and daily rhythm — which can be especially helpful when symptoms persist despite “normal” labs.

As a Toronto-based naturopathic doctor, I use DUTCH testing as part of a comprehensive assessment to better understand complex hormone-related concerns.

DUTCH testing is a specialized urine-based hormone test that measures hormone levels and their metabolites over a full day or cycle phase. It provides insight into not only how much hormone is present, but how your body is producing, converting, and clearing hormones.

This type of testing can be useful when symptoms suggest hormonal imbalance but conventional testing has been inconclusive.

What DUTCH Testing Measures

Depending on the panel used, DUTCH testing may assess:

- Estrogen and estrogen metabolites

- Progesterone and metabolites

- Testosterone and androgen metabolites

- Cortisol and cortisone patterns throughout the day (additional panel)

- Melatonin (additional panel)

- Organic acid markers related to neurotransmitters and nutrient status

Results are interpreted alongside symptoms, cycle history, and other lab findings.

How DUTCH Hormone Testing Works

Once you've completed your initial intake with Dr. Holmberg, ND, a DUTCH test can be ordered to drop ship to home address, or provided for you in office.

The test is completed at home and does not require a blood draw.

The Collection Method

DUTCH testing uses dried urine samples collected on specialized filter paper. This method allows for accurate hormone measurement while making collection simple and non-invasive.

Depending on the panel ordered, collection may include:

Multiple urine samples across one day to assess cortisol and cortisone patterns
Single or paired samples to evaluate sex hormones and metabolites
Cycle-timed collection for menstruating women, when relevant

Clear written instructions are provided to guide timing and collection.

Step-by-Step Collection Overview

Urinate as usual, then collect a small urine sample on the provided filter paper
Allow the sample to dry completely at room temperature
Repeat at specified times, if required by the test
Place dried samples in the prepaid mailer and return to the lab

No refrigeration or special storage is needed once samples are dry.

What Happens After Collection

Once received by the laboratory, the dried urine samples are analyzed for hormone levels and metabolites. Results are compiled into a comprehensive report showing, generally reported in ~ 10 - 15 business days:

Hormone production levels
Metabolic pathways (how hormones are broken down and cleared)
Daily cortisol rhythm
Pattern-based trends rather than single-point values

Results are reviewed alongside symptoms, medical history, and other laboratory findings.

Test before you Treat!

Hormone-related symptoms often overlap, which makes testing important before treatment. Fatigue, weight gain, mood changes, poor sleep, and cycle irregularities can be caused by very different hormone patterns that look similar clinically.

Many hormone imbalances can mirror one another. Low progesterone, high estrogen, cortisol dysregulation, and thyroid dysfunction may present with similar symptoms. Without testing, it is easy to misinterpret the underlying pattern.

Hormone testing helps determine whether symptoms are related to hormone levels, hormone metabolism, daily rhythm, or interactions between systems. This distinction matters because treating the wrong pattern can worsen symptoms rather than improve them.

Supporting hormone clearance or suppression without proper assessment may intensify fatigue, mood symptoms, or cycle disruption. Identifying hormone patterns first allows for safer, more targeted, and individualized care.

Dr. Holmberg, ND always advises testing before you treat hormone imbalances