UBCNews - Business - Fatigue, Anxiety, PMS? The DUTCH Hormone Test Shows What’s Really Going On

Episode Date: February 24, 2026

Welcome back, everyone! Today we're tackling something that affects so many people but often goes undetected by standard testing—hormonal imbalances. If you've ever felt exhausted, struggled with irregular periods, or just felt off despite normal blood work, this episode is for you. I'm here with a guest who specializes in functional hormone testing. Let's talk about what traditional blood tests might be missing. Healthflow Naturopathic City: Calgary Address: 2204 2 Street Southwest Website: https://healthflow.ca/

Welcome back, everyone. Today we're tackling something that affects so many people, but often goes undetected by standard testing. Hormonal imbalances. If you've ever felt exhausted, struggled with irregular periods, or just felt off despite normal blood work, this episode is for you. I'm here with a guest who specializes in functional hormone testing. Let's talk about what traditional blood tests might be missing. Thanks for having me. You know, hormonal imbalances can trigger such a wide range of symptoms. fatigue, insomnia, depression, anxiety, even irregular periods. And here's the thing. Many people get their blood work done, and everything comes back normal. But they still feel terrible.

Right, exactly. So what's going on there? Why would someone have normal blood test results but still experience all those symptoms? Great question. Blood tests give us a snapshot of hormone levels at one single point in time. But they can't effectively test adrenal hormones throughout the day, and they don't provide extensive metabolite testing, especially for cortisol and estrogens.

Metabolites are the downstream breakdown products of hormones, and they're excreted in urine. Testing these metabolites gives us a much fuller picture of what's actually happening with hormone production and detoxification. I see. So you're saying the metabolites reveal how our body is processing and clearing out these hormones? Exactly.

You could have parent hormone levels that appear normal, but if there's downstream dysfunction, revealed by the metabolites, that can silently drive symptoms and even long-term health risks, like certain cancers. Hormones that aren't broken down properly may increase cancer risk. It's like having a car that looks fine on the outside but has engine trouble under the hood. Ha, I like that analogy, so how do we actually test these metabolites? Is there a different method? Yes. Enter the Dutch test. The dried urine test for comprehensive hormones. It's a simple dried urine test that patients can do at home. You collect four or five samples over a 24-hour period. When you wake up, two hours after

waking, around dinner time and at bedtime. Then you mail the samples to the lab. That sounds way less invasive than multiple blood draws or clinic visits, and I imagine it reduces stress, which could actually lead to more accurate results, right? Definitely. The at-home collection eliminates the need for multiple clinic visits. Plus, because you're collecting samples throughout the day, you get a detailed picture of hormone balance over 24 hours, instead of just one moment. Research from the test manufacturer shows excellent agreement

between dried urine and liquid urine samples, and some sources indicate at-home urine tests are reliable as blood and saliva tests, though some independent evidence supporting its validity is still developing. That point about detailed metabolite testing sets up our next piece, what exactly the test measures. But first, a quick word from our sponsor. Struggling with unexplained fatigue or hormonal symptoms? Health flow naturopathic uses functional testing to uncover the root causes of health challenges. Their naturopathic doctors identify what's holding you back, from hormonal imbalances to digestive issues,

and create personalized plans with lifestyle optimization, targeted supplements, and nashorephysmins. natural pain management to help you feel vibrant and well again. Visit healthflow.ca. Picking up on that detailed metabolite testing, what specific hormones and metabolites does the Dutch test evaluate? The Dutch test evaluates estrogens, progesterone, androgens, adrenal metabolites like free and metabolized cortisol, and even organic acids. For estrogens alone, it measures several different metabolites, typically including

six key ones like 20HE1, 40HE1, 16OHE1, two methoxyE1, 2OHE2, and 40HE2. And why does that matter? What does knowing those pathways tell you? Understanding estrogen and progesterone metabolites can help practitioners assess estrogen-related cancer risk, autoimmunity, PMS, and fertility issues. For example, the ratio of certain estrogen metabolites is really important for assessing cancer risk. If estrogen isn't being eliminated safely, it can build up and cause health problems. That's something blood tests simply can't show. I actually had a patient years ago who came in

feeling completely drained, and her blood work looked fine. But when we ran the Dutch test, we saw her estrogen metabolites were way off balance. Wow, what about cortisol? I know that's a big one for people dealing with stress and fatigue. Oh, absolutely. The Dutch test, measures both free cortisol and metabolized cortisol. Free cortisol is the active form that binds to receptors and helps us understand the circadian rhythm, why someone might have low energy or trouble sleeping. Metabolized cortisol indicates total cortisol production over a day. In other words, it shows how much cortisol your body is actually making and breaking down over that full 24-hour window. Saliva testing can

measure free cortisol but doesn't measure cortisol metabolites, so you're missing half the picture. Right, makes sense. So to everyone listening, if you've ever been told your cortisol is fine, but you still feel burned out, this metabolite testing might reveal what's really going on. Have you noticed certain patterns in the results you see? All the time. The Dutch test can uncover issues like high estrogen and provide insights into factors affecting hormone metabolism, such as nutrient deficiencies, which can contribute to conditions like PMDD and low energy, even when blood tests appear normal. That's incredible. So once you have these results, how do they inform treatment? What do you

actually do with all this data? The results guide personalized treatment plans. If someone's estrogen detoxification pathways are sluggish, we might suggest specific dietary changes, targeted supplements, or lifestyle interventions to support those pathways. If cortisol metabolism is abnormal, we can tailor stress management. strategies, uh, adjust sleep routines, or consider adrenal support. Right. It's really about identifying the root cause instead of merely treating symptoms. Exactly. And for androgens, the Dutch test helps determine the activity of certain enzymes. When metabolism favors the more androgenic pathway, women might experience cystic acne,

hair loss, or PCOS. Men might deal with male pattern baldness or prostate issues. Knowing which pathway is dominant allows us to intervene more precisely. This really gives people options they might not have known existed. You know, I think the key takeaway here is that if standard testing isn't giving you answers, there are other tools available. The Dutch test offers that deeper, more nuanced look at how your body is processing hormones, beyond what's in your blood at one moment. Right.

Understanding those metabolites provides insights that can genuinely change someone's health trajectory. Whether it's reducing cancer risk, improving fertility, or just feeling like yourself again, having that complete picture makes all the difference. Well said, so if you've been struggling with unexplained symptoms and feel like you're not getting the full story, consider asking your practitioner about thorough hormone testing. Because sometimes your hormones are telling a story your blood work can't read. Thanks so much for breaking this down today. It's been really enlightening.

My pleasure. Thanks for having me.