The DUTCH test measures the total of testosterone glucuronide and testosterone sulfate. These conjugates of testosterone are formed mostly from bioavailable testosterone that undergoes phase 2 metabolism to make it ready for urine excretion.
Testosterone glucuronide is mostly made by the UGT2B17 enzyme, which also makes the glucuronide forms of 5a-DHT and 5b-androstanediol. Genetic variants of this enzyme reduce the urinary levels of these hormones without affecting serum levels. The genetic variants of UGT2B17 vary in the population from 7-80% (variation dependent on genetic ancestry, with the highest rates in those of Asian descent). Heterozygous individuals show milder reductions in urinary testosterone than homozygous. For this reason, low and very low levels of urinary testosterone should be confirmed with serum testing before treatment is applied. Serum testing can include free and total testosterone and SHBG.
The testes make most of the male's testosterone. Levels tend to be their highest at around 20 years of age and start to decline when men get into their 30's. Levels continue to drop as men age. Testosterone is needed for building bones and muscle mass, regulating body fat distribution and in the production of sperm and red blood cells. Testosterone is also important for libido and downstream production of modest amounts of estrogen.
Testosterone levels in healthy men vary widely so it is suggested that these ranges be interpreted with caution and consideration of symptoms. In addition, because estrogen also supports libido, erections and healthy weight management, estrogen levels should be considered along with the testosterone levels when assessing symptoms.
----------------------------------------
Testosterone in Women
The main male sex hormone, testosterone is also important for women. Optimizing testosterone in women with low or low-normal levels may improve poor libido, vaginal dryness, muscle mass, and overall sense of optimism and well-being. Low levels may be due to low DHEA precursor or adrenal stress. High levels are common in PCOS or may be a sign of over-supplementation.
Testosterone in Men
Lower levels in men are increasingly common and can lead to fatigue, apathy, loss of muscle mass and strength. Low or low normal levels in young to middle aged men can be an indicator of environmental toxicity. High levels are rarely seen except in cases of over-supplementation. Testosterone metabolizes to more potent androgens via 5α-reductase and aromatizes to estradiol. Testosterone in men should be evaluated in relationship to estrogens in order to evaluate possible over-aromatization.
A low testosterone level in men may be due to:
- Hypothalamic or pituitary disease
- A genetic condition causing decreased testosterone production in young men
- Testicular failure / infertility, which can be genetic (myotonic dystrophy) or due to impairment (alcoholism, physical injury, or the mumps)
- A chronic disease like diabetes
Talk to your doctor about possible treatment options. Here are a few natural ways that have shown to increase testosterone in men:
- Getting enough sleep (7 to 8 hrs / night)
- Maintain a healthy diet
- Lose weight (Losing excess weight can bring testosterone back up.)
- Stay active (Sedentary men tend to have reduced levels of testosterone, as the body doesn’t need as much. Weightlifting can stimulate testosterone production.)
- Reduce stress
- Get to a optimal vitamin D level
- Talk to GP about DHEA, Vit D, Magnesium, Zinc supplementation
- Review existing medications (Medication can be one of the most common reasons for low testosterone levels)
- Avoid drugs and alcohol
- Avoid BPA (=endocrine disruptor)
Understand and improve your laboratory results with our health dashboard.
Upload your lab reports and get your interpretation today.
Our technology helps to understand, combine, track, organize, and act on your medical lab test results.
A high testosterone level in men may indicate:
- Testicular tumors
- Adrenal tumors producing testosterone
- Use of anabolic steroids
- Early puberty
- Congenital adrenal hyperplasia affecting the adrenal glands
Increased testosterone in women may be caused by:
- Ovarian or adrenal gland tumor
- Polycystic ovary syndrome
- Congenital adrenal hyperplasia affecting the adrenal glands
Interpret Your Lab Results
Upload your lab report, and we'll interpret and provide you with recommendations today.
Get StartedOur specialized data entry service is designed to seamlessly integrate your laboratory results into your private dashboard. Just send in your lab test results—whether it's an image or a file—and our skilled data entry team will handle the rest. We accommodate various file formats like PDFs, JPGs, and Excel.
The first report is complimentary. After that, the data entry service is priced at $15 per report, unless it's part of your subscribed plan. It's an ideal solution whether you have numerous reports to upload or if your schedule doesn't permit self-data entry.
We strive to make the data entry process easy for you. Whether by offering dozens of templates to choose from that pre-populate the most popular laboratory panels or by giving you instant feedback on the entered values. Our data entry forms are an easy, fast, and convenient way to enter the reports yourself. There is no limit on how many lab reports you can upload.
Personal plans
track personal results
Professional Plan
track multiple client's results
$15/month
$250/once
own it for life
$45/month
for health professionals
Personal Account
$15/month
for personal lab results
$250/once
own it for life
Level up your lab report analysis with our Pro plan, built for health practitioners like you.
Health Business Account
$45/month
Unlock additional Pro plans when you sign up.
At HealthMatters, we're committed to maintaining the security and confidentiality of your personal information. We've put industry-leading security standards in place to help protect against the loss, misuse, or alteration of the information under our control. We use procedural, physical, and electronic security methods designed to prevent unauthorized people from getting access to this information. Our internal code of conduct adds additional privacy protection. All data is backed up multiple times a day and encrypted using SSL certificates. See our Privacy Policy for more details.
5a-Androstanediol, 5a-Androstanediol (male), 5a-DHT, 5a-DHT (male), 5b-Androstanediol, 5b-Androstanediol (male), Androsterone, Androsterone (male), DHEA-S (Urine), DHEA-S (Urine) (male), Epi-Testosterone, Epi-Testosterone (male), Etiocholanolone, Etiocholanolone (male), Testosterone (DUTCH), Testosterone (DUTCH) (male), Total DHEA Production