Women may be able to find out when they will go through the menopause with a simple blood test, according to a new study.
Researchers at the Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences in Iran found they could predict the age of menopause to within four months.
The test could provide relief to those women who want to know how long they can safely delay starting a family, and also help those at risk of an early menopause.
However, women were warned to be cautious of taking a lifestyle approach to such tests.
"The results from our study could enable us to make a more realistic assessment of women's reproductive status many years before they reach menopause," said study leader Dr Fahimeh Ramezani Tehrani.
Most women hit the menopause between the ages of 45 and 55. In the UK the average age for the "change" to occur is 52. However some women experience a premature menopause in their early 40s or even younger.
Around 1% have a menopause under the age of 40, and 0.1% when they are still in their 20s. The chances of having a premature menopause are greatly increased if a close relative experienced one too. Women with a mother or aunt who had the menopause early are known to be at risk.
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