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Woman expressing hormonal health challenges.

Lab + Functional Testing

Your results say normal. Your body says otherwise.

Standard blood tests tell you whether you're in range. Functional testing tells you whether you're thriving. For women with complex hormonal presentations, that difference is everything.

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Functional Hormone Testing & Integrative Pathology — Melbourne & Telehealth

Dr Amanda Waaldyk · Doctor of Chinese Medicine

My approach

Investigating the whole picture

Functional medicine looks at the underlying drivers of illness not just the symptoms. In my clinical practice, I use functional and integrative pathology testing to understand what is actually happening inside your body at a biochemical level, and to build a treatment protocol that addresses root cause rather than managing symptoms.

Standard pathology gives us a starting point. Functional testing gives us the full picture. I work primarily with NutriPath Australia's leading integrative and functional pathology laboratory alongside DUTCH testing by Precision Analytical, the internationally recognised gold standard in dried urine hormone analysis.

All testing is ordered through a consultation, interpreted in the context of your full clinical history, and integrated into your personalised treatment plan. You receive your results as a clinical conversation not a data dump.

Functional Hormone Testing & Integrative Pathology

Available in clinic at Angea Acupuncture Clinic, Prahran Melbourne, and via telehealth for women across Australia.

What I test in clinic

Testing that goes beyond the standard.

Every test is ordered through a consultation, interpreted by me, and woven into your treatment protocol.

01 — Precision Analytical

DUTCH Complete

Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones

The internationally recognised gold standard in functional hormone testing. DUTCH measures sex hormones, adrenal hormones and their metabolites, the full 24-hour cortisol pattern, organic acids, melatonin, and oxidative stress markers — all from a simple at-home dried urine collection. It shows not just your hormone levels, but how your body is producing, metabolising, and clearing them. For women who have been told their hormones are normal and feel anything but, this is often where answers begin.

02 — NutriPath · Test Code 1501

EndoMAP

Advanced Dried Urine Hormone Profile

NutriPath's most advanced dried urine hormone test — and the one I reach for most often in complex cases. The EndoMAP reports 35+ markers including oestrogen and its metabolites, progesterone, androgens, cortisol rhythm, melatonin, organic acids, and environmental exposure markers. It maps the complete hormone cascade — how hormones are produced, metabolised, and cleared — including whether oestrogen is being broken down through protective or potentially harmful pathways. Australia's equivalent of the DUTCH Advanced panel, processed by an accredited Australian laboratory.

03 — NutriPath

Gut Microbiome Testing

Comprehensive Digestive & Stool Analysis

The gut and the hormonal system are inseparable. An imbalanced gut microbiome disrupts oestrogen clearance, drives inflammation, impairs nutrient absorption, and undermines every hormonal treatment we put in place. NutriPath's comprehensive stool analysis assesses the diversity and balance of your gut microbiome, digestive function, intestinal permeability, and inflammatory markers — giving us the foundation we need to address hormonal health from the inside out.

04 — NutriPath

Vaginal Microbiome Testing

Vaginal Ecology & Immune Health

The vaginal microbiome is profoundly affected by hormonal fluctuations — across the menstrual cycle, during perimenopause, and with conditions like PCOS and endometriosis. NutriPath vaginal microbiome testing assesses the balance of protective and dysbiotic organisms, giving us clinical insight into recurrent infections, pelvic inflammatory concerns, fertility preparation, and the downstream effects of oestrogen decline. Often overlooked. Always relevant.

05 — NutriPath Integrative Pathology

Full NutriPath Testing Suite

200+ functional tests across hormones, gut, thyroid, nutrients, immunity and more

NutriPath is Australia's leading integrative and functional pathology laboratory, offering over 200 specialty tests across hormonal health, thyroid function, adrenal assessment, gut health, nutritional status, immune function, food sensitivities, heavy metals, and genetic markers. I draw on the full NutriPath test suite to investigate whatever your clinical picture requires — ordering precisely what will give us the most relevant data for your presentation, not a blanket panel.

Is functional testing right for you?

Functional testing is for you if:

Your blood tests come back normal — but you know something is wrong.
You've been told your hormones are fine, but you have clear symptoms of imbalance.
You're managing endometriosis, PCOS, adenomyosis, or perimenopause and want to understand your internal environment — not just manage symptoms.
You've had unexplained IVF failures or poor egg quality and want deeper answers.
You suspect MTHFR, oestrogen dominance, adrenal dysregulation, or gut-hormone connection — but no one has tested for it properly.
You want a clinical roadmap based on your actual biochemistry, not averages.

"Functional testing doesn't just tell me what is happening. It tells me why. And why is where treatment begins."

Dr Amanda Waaldyk · Doctor of Chinese Medicine · 20+ years in integrative women's health

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to our most common questions below.

What is the DUTCH test and how is it different from a standard blood test?

The DUTCH test (Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones) measures not just hormone levels but how your body produces, metabolises, and clears them. A standard blood test gives you a snapshot of circulating levels. The DUTCH shows the full 24-hour cortisol pattern, sex hormone metabolites, melatonin, oxidative stress markers, and organic acids — from a simple at-home urine collection. For women told their hormones are normal but who feel anything but, this is often where answers begin.

What is the NutriPath EndoMAP test?

The EndoMAP (Test Code 1501) is NutriPath's most advanced dried urine hormone profile — Australia's equivalent of the DUTCH Advanced panel, processed by an accredited Australian laboratory. It reports 35+ markers including oestrogen metabolites, progesterone, androgens, cortisol rhythm, melatonin, and environmental exposure markers. It maps the complete hormone cascade — including whether oestrogen is clearing through protective or potentially harmful pathways.

Do I need a referral to access functional testing?

All functional testing is ordered through a consultation with Dr Amanda — in person in Melbourne or via telehealth. In your appointment, Dr Amanda determines which tests will give the most meaningful data for your specific presentation. You receive results as a clinical conversation, not a data dump.

Is functional testing covered by Medicare in Australia?

Medicare covers conventional pathology ordered by GPs. Functional and integrative pathology tests — including the DUTCH test and NutriPath panels — are not Medicare-rebatable. Test costs vary by panel and are discussed at your consultation.

What conditions does functional testing help with?

Dr Amanda uses functional testing for women with complex presentations including hormonal imbalance, oestrogen dominance, PCOS, endometriosis, adrenal fatigue, thyroid dysfunction, MTHFR gene variants, perimenopause, fertility challenges, recurrent gut issues, and unexplained symptoms where standard testing has returned normal results.

What is vaginal microbiome testing and who needs it?

Vaginal microbiome testing assesses the balance of protective and dysbiotic organisms in the vaginal environment. It's relevant for women with recurrent BV, thrush, or UTIs, pelvic inflammatory concerns, those preparing for IVF or fertility treatment, and women experiencing perimenopause-related vaginal changes. Often overlooked in conventional workups — and consistently clinically relevant.

Begin Here

Ready to understand what your body is actually telling you?

All functional testing is ordered through a consultation with Dr Amanda. In your first appointment, we determine which tests will give us the most meaningful data for your specific presentation — in clinic or via telehealth, Melbourne and worldwide.

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