According to scientists, a simple blood test could now give an accurate prediction of when women will hit the menopause.

This unique test has developed by an International team and led by scientists from Michigan University, claims to tell women about their reproductive life by measuring hormone levels in the blood. With the help of this test women can plan pregnancies accordingly.

Scientists have studied the fluctuations in the hormones in 629 women over the time of 14 years and professor Maryfran Sowers said, “The information provides a 'roadmap' as to how fast women are progressing through the different elements of their reproductive life. People really want information about 'how long do I have and when'll I have my final menstrual period'.

The 'Daily Mail' quoted her as saying, “Now we are beginning to say, ‘If you have a specific FSH level combined with your age, this is the likelihood that you are in this reproductive stage’. “We finally have numbers from enough women evaluated over a long time period to describe the reproductive ageing process,”

Scientists found in the study that changes in the chemicals anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and inhibin B concentrations were predictive of the time to menopause. Five year before the menstrual period AMH fell to a non-measurable level, found in the study.

The findings were published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.