Hormone tests may help predict end of fertility for women

Some data show that American women are increasingly choosing to wait until later in life to have children. However, some find that by the time they are ready to procreate, their bodies have lost the physiological ability to do so.

Now, a recent study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism has indicated that a simple hormone test may be able to predict the future of female fertility.

According to the researchers, women typically start menopause between the ages of 40 and 60, but fertility ends about 10 years before this, sometimes as early as the age of 30.

The investigators found that levels of the anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) can predict when a woman will reach menopause, which may signal the time at which reproducing will no long be an option for this female.

The study's results showed that women with higher amounts of AMH would remain fertile longer, compared to those with low levels of the hormone.

"Women often postpone having children until their career has been well established. However, they may find that it is difficult to get pregnant at this time. It could therefore be very useful for women to know beforehand up to which age they remain fertile," said lead researcher Bart Fauser.