Beyonce Knowles feels she can "dedicate" herself to having kids now that she's a woman.

The 29-year-old singer – who has previously hinted she wants to have children with husband Jay-Z – explained it was the right time to work hard at her career when she was a teenager, but as she approaches 30 she can "focus" on her relationship with the rapper and choose whether to have babies.

She told US InStyle magazine: "When you're young —18 or 19 — you have the energy and drive. That's the time to work as hard as you can.

"Now I'm a woman, and because I gave it my all, I can focus on my marriage. I can decide I want to have kids. I can be the mother I want to be and dedicate myself to my children."

The 'Single Ladies' hitmaker explained her recent nine-month break from touring and recording music – which saw her turn down some "great" work opportunities - allowed her to spend some "great" time with Jay, which she needed to do for her "sanity".

She added: "It was great to be a wife and travel with [my husband]. I had to turn down great things. I did it for my sanity, my life, my relationships, my nephew, my husband, my sister and my friendships. I deserved to give myself time to focus on things besides performing, filming and recording."