Nearly a quarter of women – 22 per cent – would consider moving house to fall into a free NHS catchment area for IVF and 24 per cent have borrowed money to help fund the treatment. The survey of 2,000 women aged between 30 and 45 showed that one in 10 had had fertility treatment – the equivalent of 700,500 women in Britain. Of those, 6.8 per cent had had IVF, which costs a woman an average of £8,678.

The fertility treatment is known to be a difficult and invasive process, with 65 per cent of those who have experienced it saying it is more stressful than being made redundant.

The survey, by Red Magazine, showed that 47 per cent of women who try IVF are successful and that 18 per cent have undergone the treatment more than five times. The vast majority of women would be prepared to take on extra work – 96 per cent – while 95 per cent would cut down on pension contributions.

Sam Baker, from the magazine, said: “Even though we are in the midst of economic uncertainty the fertility industry has proved itself to be completely recession-proof.

“Our report shows that women are prepared to make huge financial sacrifices as they do whatever it takes to conceive, cutting back on holidays or pensions in order to boost their chances of having family.”

According to the survey, 49 per cent of women think that paying for eggs should be allowed, with those in favour saying they would ask for a minimum of £1,270 for her eggs.