Soaring numbers of single women are turning to IVF to try and conceive, according to new figures.

The number of single women undergoing the fertility treatment has more than tripled in less than a decade with a 20 per cent rise in just one year.

Some experts put the rise down to independent career women delaying having a family - and choosing to go it alone before it is too late.

But others said the increase could also be down to men refusing to get married and have children for fear of expensive divorces.

Scroll down for video

The number of single women using undergoing IVF has more than tripled in less than a decade with, a 20 per cent rise in just a year, according to the latest figures

An increased acceptance of both single-parent families and IVF in general is also thought to have played a part.

Some 952 single mothers-to-be registered at IVF clinics in 2013 according to the latest data to be released.

It marks a 226 per cent increase since 2006 and - a 22 per cent hike in just one year - according to the latest figures from the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority.

Statistics are not yet available for 2014, but early figures suggest the number of women having IVF will have tipped over 1,000 for the first time in history.

Dr Marilyn Glenville, a Harley Street nutritionist who specialises in women's health, said: 'Women are waiting longer to have a baby.

'Obviously more women now have gone up the career ladder, they have their own house, they've got financial stability - but they haven't met anybody or a relationship that's ended.

'They are in the older age group for fertility and they feel they don't have enough time to start another relationship and then have children with a new partner.

'But I think there has been issues on the other side - of men not wanting to commit to marriage or relationships, so that may have pushed the statistics up as well.

SOARING NUMBERS OF SINGLE WOMEN OPTING FOR IVF Number of women with no partner registered at UK IVF clinics: 2006 - 292 2007 - 407 2008 - 474 2009 - 565 2010 - 631 2011 - 662 2012 - 779 2013 - 952 2014 (first six months) - 501 Source: Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority Advertisement

'I think it works both ways and I think it makes men feel less wanted.

'There was a story in the news recently about a woman who got a huge divorce settlement.

'And another about a woman suing her husband twelve years after the marriage had ended, now that he's a millionaire.

'There is that feeling from men, worrying that they've built up a good income that they'd end up losing some of it - or a vast majority - should they get married and have children.

'Men are less likely to commit nowadays because of that financial situation and that forces women to take action alone.'

She added: 'In some ways it's sad because I think it falls in line with the feeling that men aren't needed.

'Obviously you can get a sperm donor - and in a way that is a shame.

'I can understand that it probably is easier to parent a child on your own, than have disagreements between couples, but I don't know whether it is good for the child.'

Single women still can't get IVF or fertilisation treatment on the NHS, but many state-funded clinics are offering it privately.

The Bristol Centre of Reproductive Medicine, one of the country's top fertility clinics, didn't offer treatment to single women until two years ago.

But last year they treated 12 women - double the year before - and doctors at the clinic expect the figures to increase in the same way year-on-year for the next three years.

Dr Valentine Akande, who works at the clinic, said: 'The data is very, very clear - there is an increase in single women having treatment using donor sperm.

Psychologists say the rise is partly due to men shunning marriage as they fear expensive divorces

'By choice it is not what most women would want - most women would prefer to be in a relationship in order to bring a child up - however, for many, they are not in a position to do so.

'They recognise that when they reach a certain age, their chances of conceiving decline considerably, so that if they don't conceive sooner rather than later, that it might not happen.'

He said a decline in fertility for women starts at the age of 31. By the time they reach aged 35 the affect is 'significant' and aged 40, women are more likely to not have a baby than get pregnant.

The doctor said there was less stigma around single mothers as well as IVF, prompting more unmarried women to have treatment.

He added the UK's open minded approach also meant single women from other countries where they were not allowed to have treatment, were coming here.

'A few years ago society and regulators deemed that you needed a partner in order to offer treatment, but since then acceptance in society has changed,' he added.

'Even IVF - people talk about it so freely now - it was heavily debated a number of years ago and there was a lot of opposition and objection, and that is not the case now.