Whether you're years away from your last period or already through the other side, if something still feels off — there's usually a reason. And it's usually hormonal.
The conversations women are having that rarely get the right answer
Too many women are dismissed, undertreated, or handed a prescription without anyone actually looking at what their hormones are doing. If you recognise yourself in any of these, you're not alone — and you're not imagining it.
"I've been put on HRT but I still feel terrible"
HRT can be life-changing — but only when the dose and type are right for you. Without testing, it's often guesswork. Too little and you still feel awful. Too much and you can feel worse. Getting the right balance requires knowing your actual levels, not estimating them.
"My doctor said my bloods are normal"
Standard blood tests measure a single hormone at a single point in time. They often miss the full picture — especially during perimenopause when levels fluctuate wildly day to day. Normal on a blood test doesn't always mean balanced.
"I don't want to take HRT — are there other options?"
Absolutely. HRT isn't right for everyone and it isn't the only path. Understanding your hormone profile means we can work with what your body is actually doing — through nutrition, supplementation, and lifestyle — rather than applying a one-size approach.
"I've been told I'm too young for menopause"
Perimenopause can begin in your late thirties. Symptoms like irregular cycles, mood swings, poor sleep, and unexplained weight gain are often brushed off as stress or anxiety for years before anyone checks hormones. Age alone is not a reason to dismiss symptoms.
What you might be experiencing
Symptoms that deserve a proper answer
Hot flushes
Night sweats
Poor sleep
Weight gain
Low mood
Anxiety
Brain fog
Fatigue
Low libido
Joint pain
Irregular cycles
Hair thinning
Heart palpitations
Dry skin
Mood swings
Memory lapses
Why testing matters
Why the DUTCH test tells you more than a standard blood test
Most women going through perimenopause or menopause are offered an oestrogen and FSH blood test. It's a start — but it's a very limited one. Here's what the difference looks like in practice.
Standard blood test
A snapshot that often misses the point
Measures oestrogen and FSH at one moment in time
Hormone levels fluctuate — one reading can look "normal" even when they're not
Doesn't look at progesterone, testosterone, or cortisol in any useful detail
Tells you nothing about how your body is metabolising and clearing hormones
Gives no insight into adrenal function or stress hormone patterns
The DUTCH Complete
A full picture of what your hormones are actually doing
Measures over 35 hormones and metabolites across a full day
Shows how oestrogen is being broken down — which affects cancer risk and symptom patterns
Includes progesterone, testosterone, DHEA, and their metabolites
Maps your cortisol curve across the day so we can see adrenal and stress patterns
Reveals whether your hormones are in balance relative to each other, not just individually
The RE+BALANCE DUTCH Test
Stop guessing. Start understanding.
The DUTCH Complete is an at-home dried urine test that gives a comprehensive view of your hormone health. Results are reviewed by our clinical team and discussed with you in a one-to-one call — so you leave knowing what's going on and what to do about it.
At-home collection kit · Results reviewed by our clinical team · One-to-one results call included
Common questions
Things people usually want to know
Yes — in many ways it's more relevant. If you're on HRT and still not feeling right, the most likely reason is that your dose or the type of HRT isn't matched to what your body actually needs. The DUTCH test can show whether your oestrogen is too high, too low, or being metabolised poorly — and whether your progesterone and testosterone levels are in balance. This gives your practitioner the information needed to adjust your treatment properly rather than guessing.
Absolutely. HRT works well for many women but it isn't the right choice for everyone — and it isn't the only option. Understanding your hormone profile means we can support your body through this transition using nutrition, targeted supplementation, and lifestyle changes. The approach is always built around your results and your preferences, not a standard protocol.
Standard blood tests give a very narrow view — typically a single oestrogen and FSH reading at one moment in time. During perimenopause especially, hormone levels can fluctuate significantly day to day, so a single reading can appear normal even when there's real imbalance. The DUTCH test measures across a full day and looks at far more markers, including how your hormones are being broken down and whether your other hormones are in balance relative to each other.
You receive a collection kit by post. The test uses dried urine samples taken at four points across one day. You then post them back to the lab, and results are typically returned within two to three weeks. Once ready, we book a one-to-one review call to walk through everything and discuss next steps.
If something feels off — your sleep has changed, your mood isn't right, your energy is different, your cycles have shifted — then yes, it's worth knowing. Perimenopause can begin years before your periods stop and is often dismissed or misdiagnosed. Testing gives you a clear picture of where your hormones are right now and whether they're a factor in how you're feeling.
