Fertility test lets women know how much time is left on biological clock
The Plan Ahead kit assesses the number of eggs in a woman's ovaries compared with the levels expected for others of the same age.
The test can predict the ovarian reserve for the following two years, meaning women can make an informed decision as to whether, or how long, they can potentially delay trying to conceive.
More and more women are delaying motherhood as they pursue their careers, believing they will still be able to conceive late in their 30s or even early 40s.
But fertility starts to decrease significantly after the age of 35 and many women who have put off having children find they are unable to conceive naturally.
The Plan Ahead test, launched by Lifestyle Choices, measures three hormones in the blood - two ovarian hormones called Inhibin B and AMH, and the pituitary hormone called FSH.
Combining these three results gives a forecast of the number of eggs in reserve, meaning that women who may face an early menopause are given a warning that they may not want to delay for too long.
The test has been developed by Professor Bill Ledger, professor of obstetrics and gynaecology at the University of Sheffield.
He said: "My hope is that Plan Ahead will help many women avoid the anguish caused by the early or unexpected arrival of declining fertility and menopause.
"By combining the test on all three hormones, we are able to offer women the most accurate ovarian reserve hormone test available in the world today, which will help them plan for the future by giving a predictive assessment of the number of eggs in their ovaries."
Women who buy the test receive a kit so they can have their blood taken by a professional, such as their GP, which is then sent off to the lab to be analysed.
The woman will then receive a letter explaining the results of the test, with a telephone helpline to deal with any concerns.
Information is available at www.life-style-choices.com.
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