Fertility worries and the search for The One
18 September 2008
More than half of British women desperate to start a family but unsuccessful in the dating game would consider asking a male friend to father their child, according to a new report.
The report commissioned by Vitabiotics found that 56 per cent of women would ask a friend to give them a child if they could not find Mr Right.
Both men and women seem to be worried about fertility and finding The One, with two thirds of single women concerned they will not be able to have a baby naturally.
The search for Mr Right is a constant pre-occupation for the majority of women, with around half of female respondents saying they think about meeting Mr Right every day.
The study found that women between the age of 28 and 31 were the most likely to mate with a mate in order to start a family.
Commenting on the study, psychologist Linda Papadopoulos said: "Interestingly, social norms of parenting and of the conventional family structure are being challenged - no longer do we see the mum, dad and 2.4 children as the only ideal.
"Reconstituted families, same sex families and single parents are much more prevalent these days. And rather than ascribing to the 'norm' it seems that women and men are more flexible with their definition of 'family'."
