Ultrasound test predicts menopause

Looking at a woman's ovaries with ultrasound may help doctors determine when their reproductive years will come to an end ( menopause), according to new research. This is important because women of the same chronological age may not necessarily be of the same reproductive age. The information can help them make decisions about whether or not to delay having children.The size of the ovaries on ultrasound gives a fairly good indication of how many eggs are still remaining. By factoring this number into graphs that chart the typical drop in the number of eggs over time, doctors can predict when menopause is likely to occur. Researchers from the University of Edinburgh found a strong correlation between ovary size and the number of eggs remaining in women between 25 and 51 years of age. Plugging this data into the graph of egg decline over time, the researchers were able to accurately predict the timing of menopause. The accurate assessment of how many eggs remain will revolutionise the management of women requesting assisted conception, those who have had treatment for childhood cancer and those who are considering delaying a family for personal or professional reasons, according to the researchers.