The DUTCH Test: The #1 Recommended Test for Perimenopause
It’s normal for hormones to shift and change throughout a woman’s life. What’s not normal is feeling like you have no control over your body during those transitions.
For many women, perimenopause and menopause can feel like a storm they didn’t see coming. Hot flashes. Sleepless nights. Mood swings. Weight that won’t budge. A sudden dip in energy or libido. These symptoms can creep in seemingly overnight, leaving you frustrated, discouraged, or even hopeless.
But you don’t have to suffer in silence. There are answers, and there are solutions. The first step is understanding what’s really going on with your hormones, which is exactly what we help you with at Winnipeg Nutrition.
Why You Haven’t Gotten Answers Yet
If you’ve sought help from your doctor, you may have had your hormones tested with standard blood work. While this can provide a basic snapshot, it’s often incomplete. Traditional hormone testing typically measures only a few hormones at a single point in time. Hormones, however, fluctuate throughout the day and month and are metabolized differently from one woman to the next.
This means many women are left with results that don’t match their symptoms—or worse, are told everything looks “normal” when they know they don’t feel normal.
This is where functional hormone testing shines, and why the DUTCH Test is such a game-changer.
What is the DUTCH Test?
DUTCH stands for Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones. It’s one of the most advanced and widely trusted hormone tests used by functional medicine practitioners around the world and why we run it almost daily in our clinic.
Unlike a simple blood test, the DUTCH test looks at not only your hormone levels but also how your body is metabolizing them, or breaking them them down. This provides a detailed, well-rounded picture of your hormone health and helps identify why you’re experiencing symptoms.
It’s non-invasive, done at home, and provides insights that are impossible to see with standard testing alone.
Key Markers We Assess With the DUTCH Test
Through the DUTCH we’ll measure:
Sex hormones: Estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and their metabolites
Cortisol: Your stress hormone, measured over 24 hours for a true pattern (not just one snapshot)
Melatonin: Your sleep-wake cycle hormone
Organic acids: Markers related to vitamin B12, glutathione, and other nutrients that impact hormone balance
By looking at both levels and metabolites, we can see whether your body is clearing hormones effectively or if imbalances are contributing to your symptoms.
Who is the DUTCH Test For?
The DUTCH test isn’t only for women in perimenopause and menopause—it’s for women at every stage of life who want to better understand and optimize their hormone health.
Teenagers with painful or irregular periods
Women trying to optimize fertility and prepare for pregnancy
Postpartum women navigating hormonal changes
Women in perimenopause or menopause wanting relief and better quality of life
If you’ve been struggling with:
Hot flashes or night sweats
Weight gain that won’t budge
Anxiety or depression
Fatigue and burnout
Low libido or vaginal dryness
Irregular, heavy, or painful periods
Insomnia or poor sleep
Other hormone-related challenges
…then the DUTCH test can provide the clarity you’ve been searching for.
Why This Matters
At Winnipeg Nutrition, we believe women deserve better care than “your labs are normal” or “this is just part of getting older.” You deserve to be heard, respected, and supported with real answers. The DUTCH test allows us to dig deeper, uncover the root cause of your symptoms, and create a personalized plan to help you thrive during this stage of life—and beyond.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
You don’t have to stay stuck in the cycle of fatigue, hot flashes, or restless nights. With the right testing, you can finally understand why your symptoms are happening and take clear steps toward balance, energy, and vitality.
Email us today at Winnipeg Nutrition to get started with the DUTCH test!
