IS not being able to have babies because you haven't met Mr Right as bad as being medically infertile?

According to this survey, yes.

The survey - done in the UK by Red magazine - of 3,000 women aged 28 to 45 revealed that just over a third (36 per cent) were not yet sure if they ever wanted to start a family.

Another third did not think they had met the right partner.

But crucially, 54 per cent said that being 'emotionally infertile' - not being able to have children because they didn't have a partner - was as painful as being medically infertile.

IVF: What to expect

Brigid Moss, health director at Red, said: 'We have identified what we call emotional infertility, that is being childless not by choice, due to not having a partner or a partner not wanting to have children.

'We all know someone in this position. A doctor can't help with emotional infertility.

'It's become more acceptable to talk about medical infertility with your friends and family, so women can now be more open about that. But it must be very hard to confess that you're desperate for a baby, but haven't met anyone.

'Every few months, there's another warning from the medical profession that the best time to conceive is under 35. But this report has shown that often, at the right biological time, women are simply not in the right place emotionally or financially to start trying.'

Tips to boost fertility

The survey also found that one in five women said they would consider trying to conceive without a husband or partner by using donor sperm. Another fifth have thought seriously about freezing their eggs so they could have children later on.

One woman who took part in the survey said she decided to find a sperm donor after her 40th birthday.

Nicola, who did not wish to give her full name, used a website which specially matches women with donors, and became pregnant a few months later.

One in ten women who took part in the survey had IVF and on average they paid just over $1,100 for treatment.

Of those who had fertility treatment, more than three quarters - 77 per cent - paid for it privately.

Are you a woman who fears or suffers from emotional infertility? Share your experience below.