Wellness with Vanda
Welcome to Wellness with Vanda—the women's health podcast for every season of motherhood! Whether you're trying to conceive, currently pregnant, navigating postpartum, or raising little ones (up to age 8ish), this podcast is here to support you on your journey to wellness.
Hosted by Vanda, a Functional Medicine Nurse Coach specializing in hormone balance and energy optimization, this show dives into the intersection of hormones, mindset, and motherhood.
Each episode is packed with actionable tips to:
- Naturally boost your energy and combat fatigue.
- Improve your mood and recover from mom burnout.
- Enhance fertility and prepare for pregnancy.
- Navigate the fourth trimester and thrive in postpartum life.
- Master balanced nutrition, joyful movement, and sleep strategies tailored for moms.
Vanda also shares insights from her private practice, where she uses advanced tools like HTMA and DUTCH testing to personalize wellness solutions. Whether you're looking to feel your best or simply embrace motherhood with more energy and joy, Wellness with Vanda is your go-to resource.
Wellness with Vanda
50: DUTCH Testing 101: Who Needs It & When It’s Worth It
Curious about DUTCH testing and whether it’s the right next step for you? In this episode, we’re breaking down everything you need to know about this comprehensive hormone test—what it measures, who it’s best for, and when it’s truly worth the investment.
You'll learn:
✔️ What DUTCH testing reveals that standard blood work doesn’t
✔️ Who should (and shouldn’t) get tested
✔️ The key things to do before investing in hormone testing
✔️ Why I often recommend pairing DUTCH with an HTMA test for the best insights
Plus, I’m sharing details about 1:1 spots for personalized hormone testing and how to decide if this is the right next step for you!
Ready to get answers about your hormones? Tune in now! 🎧
Register for Mama's Advice Vault!
Enroll in Mama's Power-Up
Work with me one-on-one in Super Mom
Download my FREE Minerals for Mamas Guide
Follow me on IG @wellness.with.vanda
Hey, hey! Welcome back to the podcast. Today, we're diving into all things DUTCH testing, but before we get into that, I want to remind you that Mama's Advice Vault is officially open for registration!
If you listened to last week's episode, you’ve heard me talk about this already, but it’s finally here, and I’m so excited! Mama’s Advice Vault is an audio-only event, delivered podcast-style, featuring 28-30 expert speakers sharing their #1 piece of advice in their area of expertise.
We’re covering everything from fertility and pregnancy to postpartum and toddlerhood, with topics like:
✔️ How to prepare your birth plan
✔️ Mindset shifts for navigating motherhood
✔️ Managing toddler meltdowns
✔️ Keeping intimacy alive in your relationship after kids
I’ve already recorded over half of the interviews, and they are SO good! If you sign up and listen to even half of these expert interviews, you’ll walk away with so much knowledge and simple, actionable steps you can start implementing right away.
The best part? The episodes are super short—most are 8 to 15 minutes—so you can actually listen and apply what you learn. I didn’t want this to be another event where you sign up and never get around to watching hours of content. This is designed to fit into your busy mom life!
If you haven’t signed up yet, check the show notes and get registered! You don’t want to miss it.
What is DUTCH Testing?
Now, let’s get into today’s episode: DUTCH testing! It’s been a while since I’ve talked about this, so I wanted to break it down—what it is, who should get tested, and when it’s worth the investment.
DUTCH stands for Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones. It’s a functional lab test that provides deep insights into your hormone levels, cortisol patterns, and how your body metabolizes hormones. Unlike traditional blood work, which gives you a snapshot of hormone levels at a single point in time, DUTCH testing provides a more complete picture by looking at hormone patterns throughout the day.
💡 Important Note: This is not a test you can get through your OBGYN or primary care provider. It’s a functional medicine test, meaning you’ll need to order it through a practitioner like myself.
Who Should Get a DUTCH Test?
DUTCH testing is most useful for women who are experiencing:
✔️ Irregular periods or severe PMS symptoms
✔️ Infertility with no clear explanation
✔️ Suspected estrogen dominance or low progesterone
✔️ Unexplained fatigue, weight gain, or mood swings
✔️ Hormonal acne, migraines, or PCOS symptoms
✔️ Perimenopause or menopause symptoms
It’s a powerful tool to pinpoint hormonal imbalances and create a targeted plan to rebalance your body.
Who Should NOT Get a DUTCH Test?
As much as I love DUTCH testing, it’s not for everyone. In some cases, it’s not the best use of your money. Here’s when I don’t recommend it:
🚫 If you’re pregnant – Your hormones are already shifting dramatically, so testing wouldn’t provide useful insights.
🚫 If you’re on hormonal birth control – Your test results will reflect the synthetic hormones in the birth control, not your body’s natural hormone production.
🚫 If you’re currently breastfeeding – Breastfeeding naturally suppresses some hormones, making the test results less accurate. I recommend waiting until you’ve had at least 3 natural cycles after weaning before testing.
🚫 If you haven’t addressed foundational health habits – Testing is an investment. If you’re not eating enough, managing stress, and getting quality sleep, those should be your first steps before jumping into expensive testing.
💡 Bottom line: I only recommend testing if it will provide actionable insights that can directly improve your health.
What to Do BEFORE Getting a DUTCH Test
Before you invest in DUTCH testing, I highly recommend:
✅ Giving your body time to adjust after stopping birth control (at least 3 months)
✅ Focusing on foundational habits—balancing blood sugar, eating enough protein and fiber, prioritizing sleep, and managing stress
✅ Considering an HTMA test first or alongside DUTCH—HTMA shows us why your hormones are imbalanced by assessing your mineral status. Pairing HTMA + DUTCH testing gives us the full picture for a truly customized plan.
If you’re unsure whether DUTCH testing is right for you, reach out! I always give honest, non-pushy recommendations based on your specific symptoms and goals.
How to Work with Me on DUTCH Testing
If you’ve been curious about DUTCH testing and feel like you need one, I currently have 1:1 spots available! I only take a few 1:1 clients each month to ensure I can provide personalized support, so if you’re interested, reach out soon to secure your spot.
We’ll work together to:
✔️ Order the right version of the test for you
✔️ Interpret your results so you actually understand what’s going on with your hormones
✔️ Create a targeted plan with personalized nutrition, lifestyle, and supplement recommendations
Final Reminders
📌 Grab My Free Minerals for Mamas Guide! If you haven’t downloaded it yet, it’s in the show notes. This guide will help you support your hormones and energy levels naturally with mineral-rich foods and simple, nourishing recipes.
📌 Subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss next week’s episode! I release new episodes every Tuesday, and I’d love for you to tune in.
Alright, mama, that’s it for this week! I hope this episode helped you better understand DUTCH testing—when it’s helpful, when it’s not, and what to do before you invest in it.
As always, I’m here to support you. If you have any questions, send me a DM on Instagram @wellnesswithvanda or check the show notes for ways to connect with me.
Talk to you next week! 💜
