DUTCH Cycle Mapping™ PLUS

Description

The DUTCH Cycle Mapping™ PLUS not only maps estrogen and progesterone through the monthly menstrual cycle, but also adds the comprehensiveness of all the hormone metabolites along with the cortisol awakening response (CAR).

Hormonal balance is key. Fluctuating levels of estradiol and progesterone play a major role in a woman’s overall health. This panel is designed for cycling women who struggle with ongoing symptoms such as monthly migraines, fertility issues, or PCOS. The addition of the cortisol awakening response (CAR), a transient, immediate rise in cortisol upon awakening (distinct from the diurnal rhythm), provides a fuller assessment of hormone fluctuations, baseline stress response, and reflects a patient’s ability to cope with anticipated challenges. CAR also shows a patient’s perception of control around chronic stress, providing insight into HPA resiliency.

WHEN IS CYCLE MAPPING™ PLUS RECOMMENDED?

• Women struggling with infertility
• Women with cycling hormones and no menses
• Partial hysterectomy (ovaries intact but no uterus)
• Ablations
• Women with irregular cycles
• PCOS
• If the luteal phase shifts from month-to-month
• Not sure when to test due to long or short cycles
• Women whose hormonal symptoms tend to fluctuate throughout the cycle
• PMS, mid-cycle spotting, migraines, etc.

WHEN IS CYCLE MAPPING™ PLUS NOT NEEDED? (DUTCH COMPLETE™ IS SUFFICIENT)

• Postmenopausal women
• Women on birth control
• Women with cycles that follow the expected pattern

WHAT CAN INCLUDING THE DUTCH PLUS®
AND CAR TELL YOU?

Even though a patient may have “normal” free cortisol levels throughout the day, that does not always mean everything is functioning properly. The graph below shows two good examples. A blunted or exaggerated CAR can appear even when single samples return “normal” results. The HPA axis might not be appropriately responding when faced with a stressor, even when cortisol levels are fluctuating nicely throughout the day.