Precision Hormone Assessment
Why testing beats guessing — every time
Hormone imbalance is frequently addressed based on symptoms and guesswork rather than actual measurement. While symptom patterns provide valuable clinical information, targeted testing provides the specific data needed to build a precise, effective protocol. Generic protocols based on symptoms alone often miss the primary driver.
Standard medical testing frequently under-serves women seeking comprehensive evaluation. TSH alone misses T4-to-T3 conversion problems. A single estrogen draw misses the cycle pattern. Conventional testing is designed to catch pathology, not optimize function. Functional testing approaches — particularly the DUTCH urine panel — provide the deeper picture needed for precision wellness.
The DUTCH test — the gold standard
The DUTCH (Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones) provides the most informative single test for women's hormonal health. Using 5 urine samples across one day, it measures: the full cortisol curve, estrogen and estrogen metabolites (the 2-OH/16-OH ratio central to estrogen dominance evaluation), progesterone metabolites, DHEA-S, androgens, melatonin, and functional B vitamin markers.
The cortisol curve alone provides information unavailable from serum testing — whether the pattern is normal, blunted, inverted, or dysrhythmic. This distinction significantly changes the appropriate intervention.
Functional hormone testing provides the specific data needed for a truly targeted wellness protocol
Key panels to consider
- DUTCH Complete — cortisol curve, estrogen metabolites, progesterone, DHEA, androgens
- Comprehensive thyroid panel — TSH, free T3, free T4, reverse T3, TPO antibodies
- Vitamin D 25-OH — the most commonly deficient nutrient in women
- Ferritin (iron stores) — low ferritin below 40 ng/mL causes significant fatigue in women
- Fasting insulin + HbA1c — metabolic insulin sensitivity picture
- hs-CRP and homocysteine — inflammation and cardiovascular risk markers
- B12 + methylmalonic acid — functional B12 status beyond serum level
Top Recommended Products
- Full cortisol curve across the day
- Estrogen metabolite 2-OH/16-OH ratio
- Progesterone, DHEA, androgens measured
- 10+ hormones in one test
- At-home collection, physician-reviewed results
- Good starting point for hormone awareness
Testing the Body, Nurturing the Spirit
"Be Still" — what testing reveals and stillness heals
Hormone testing gives you biochemical data. Be Still by Joshua Singerman gives you a practice for responding to that information with wisdom rather than anxiety. Understanding your hormonal picture and addressing it with both targeted support and daily inner stillness is the most complete approach to women's hormonal wellness.
Read Be Still on Amazon →Frequently Asked Questions
When in my cycle should I test hormones?
For progesterone (luteal phase function), day 21 of a 28-day cycle is standard. For cortisol, the DUTCH collects samples across one day regardless of cycle day. For estrogen pattern assessment, testing across the full cycle provides more information. Post-menopausal women can test at any time.
What if my doctor says my results are "normal"?
Standard reference ranges are built for pathology detection, not optimization. A "normal" TSH of 3.5 may still cause symptoms in some women; functional medicine practitioners often target 1.0–2.0. A progesterone in the low-normal range may be insufficient if estrogen is relatively high. Functional interpretation of your results alongside symptoms is more clinically meaningful than range comparison alone.
