Proper Healthy Life – Hormone Knowledge Base

This page helps clients understand when functional hormone testing may be appropriate and what to expect from the process. It is for education and orientation only — not for diagnosis or treatment advice.

Why Test Hormones Functionally

Hormones coordinate communication between the ovaries or testes, adrenals, thyroid, gut, and liver. Traditional blood work gives a single snapshot, while functional hormone mapping shows production, metabolism, and clearance across a 24-hour period.

Gold-Standard Hormone Testing

DUTCH Complete – $499 — comprehensive dried-urine hormone map.
DUTCH Plus – $600 — adds the Cortisol Awakening Response (CAR) to assess daily stress resiliency.

These tests evaluate estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA-S, and cortisol patterns, plus markers for hormone metabolism and overall stress response.

Common Symptoms of Hormone Imbalance

Hormonal changes can affect energy, metabolism, mood, cognition, and sexual health. These patterns occur in both women and men and often overlap across systems.

Women

Irregular or painful menstrual cycles
PMS or mood swings before menstruation
Hot flashes or night sweats (peri- or post-menopause)
Weight gain or difficulty losing weight
Fatigue or feeling “wired but tired”
Low libido or vaginal dryness
Hair loss or thinning hair
Breast tenderness or fibrocystic changes
Sleep disturbance or early waking
Brain fog or poor focus

Men

Low libido or erectile dysfunction
Loss of muscle mass or strength
Increased abdominal fat
Fatigue or low motivation
Mood changes or irritability
Sleep disturbance or insomnia
Hair loss or oily skin
Gynecomastia (breast tissue changes)
Brain fog or concentration issues
Reduced endurance or recovery

Shared or Non–Sex-Specific Symptoms

Persistent fatigue not relieved by rest
Unexplained weight changes or weight-loss resistance
Anxiety, irritability, or mood instability
Brain fog, poor concentration, or memory decline
Loss of stress resilience or motivation
Digestive changes, bloating, or cravings
Decreased immune resilience or frequent illness

Common Hormone-Related Concerns

1. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

PCOS involves disrupted ovulation and elevated androgens. Sub-types include:

Insulin-related PCOS — elevated insulin increases ovarian androgen output.
Adrenal-related PCOS — high DHEA-S from chronic stress stimulation.
Post-pill or inflammatory PCOS — cycle irregularity after hormonal birth control or inflammation.

Testing: The DUTCH Complete or Plus shows androgen patterns and cortisol influence.

2. Adrenal Patterns & Elevated DHEA-S

Chronic stress can push the adrenals to overproduce DHEA-S. The DUTCH Plus, which includes the Cortisol Awakening Response, helps identify whether stress hormones are under- or over-responsive through the day.

3. Hormone Metabolism & Estrogen Balance

Estrogen dominance or clearance issues may contribute to PMS, heavy cycles, or breast tenderness. The DUTCH panels map three estrogen pathways — 2-OH, 4-OH, and 16-OH — to show how the body processes and eliminates estrogen.

4. Perimenopause & Menopause

Fluctuating or low sex hormones can cause hot flashes, sleep changes, and mood shifts. DUTCH testing documents estrogen and progesterone trends as well as adrenal support of post-menopausal hormone balance.

5. Libido & Sexual Function

Decreased sexual drive can relate to testosterone, DHEA, cortisol rhythm, or neurotransmitter imbalance. DUTCH testing — often paired with Organic Acids — clarifies which hormones are contributing.

6. Fatigue & Cortisol Dysregulation

Cortisol rhythm testing shows whether energy loss is due to over-activation or burnout of the stress response. The DUTCH Plus provides a full cortisol curve and awakening response to identify these patterns.

7. Hormone-Linked Vaginal or Gut Concerns

Shifts in estrogen levels can alter the gut and vaginal microbiome, increasing the risk of dryness, irritation, or yeast recurrence. A DUTCH panel combined with a gut-health assessment can help practitioners see the connection between hormone balance and microbial health.

Functional Hormone Testing & Pricing

DUTCH Complete™ — $499

Measures: Estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA-S, cortisol & cortisone patterns, cortisol metabolites, melatonin, oxidative stress (8-OHdG), and nine organic acids. Ideal for fatigue, PMS, weight gain, libido loss, hot flashes, and brain fog.

DUTCH Plus® — $600

Measures: Everything in the DUTCH Complete plus the Cortisol Awakening Response (CAR) via saliva. Adds insight into stress resilience, burnout, and sleep disruption.

DUTCH Cycle Mapping™ — $550

Measures: Nine urinary estrogen and progesterone points across the cycle to visualize hormone fluctuations. Designed for irregular cycles, fertility, and perimenopause.

Cycle Mapping + Complete™ — $650

Combines Cycle Mapping with a full DUTCH Complete for cycle hormones, estrogen metabolism, and adrenal data.

Cycle Mapping + Plus™ — $700

Includes full Cycle Mapping, Complete, and the Cortisol Awakening Response. Captures ovarian hormone trends, metabolism, adrenal function, and oxidative stress.

DUTCH Sex Hormones Panel — $399

Measures urinary progesterone, androgen, and estrogen metabolites. Used for baseline measurement or monitoring HRT.

DUTCH Adrenal Panel — $399

Measures urinary cortisol, cortisone, metabolites, creatinine, and DHEA-S. Evaluates overall adrenal output and metabolism rate.

DUTCH Organic Acids (OATs) Panel — $299

Measures vitamin B markers, biotin, glutathione, gut dysbiosis (indican), melatonin, and oxidative stress (8-OHdG). Excellent companion test for nutrient evaluation.

DUTCH CAR™ (Cortisol Awakening Response) — $299

Saliva-only test assessing cortisol rise upon waking. Helpful for chronic fatigue, burnout, anxiety, insomnia, and high-stress lifestyles.

What to Expect During the Discovery Process

Step	Purpose	Outcome
1. Pre-Discovery Chat	AI Concierge gathers symptoms and explains available hormone testing.	Client understands options and approximate cost.
2. Discovery Call ($97)	Brief review of goals and readiness.	Fee applied toward testing or case start.
3. Functional Testing	DUTCH Complete ($499) or DUTCH Plus ($600).	Comprehensive hormone mapping for practitioner interpretation.
4. Results & Next Steps	Practitioner reviews findings and outlines personalized options.	Client leaves with clear expectations and timeline.

Key Takeaways

Hormone symptoms can stem from multiple systems; mapping helps pinpoint the source.
The DUTCH Complete or Plus provides a full hormone and adrenal overview.
Testing establishes a clear starting point before any interventions are considered.
All content is educational and not a substitute for licensed medical evaluation.

Disclaimer: This content is for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Clients should maintain care with their licensed medical provider.