A woman is becoming a single mum by choice at 41 - and refuses to "compromise" on a man just so she isn't alone."

Natalie Lovejoy has always wanted to be a parent and had expected she would meet a partner and start a family.

But after not meeting 'the one' she decided to go it alone so she didn't "miss out"."

She booked a 'fertility MOT' in January this year and her levels came back normal for her age.

But when Natalie realised the cost of intrauterine insemination (IUI) treatment - which involves injecting sperm directly into the womb - she started look at other options.

She has had one attempt via a matching app with a known donor in September 2024 but after that didn't take she is now looking at other options.

Natalie, a wedding operations manager, from Ludgershall, Wiltshire, said: "I'm not willing to compromise just to not be single."

"Don't accept less than you're worth."

"I would love to carry my own child."

"You don't need to miss out. You don't need to compromise on what you want."

Natalie had spent her twenties building up her career and travelling and struggled to find the right man.

She said: "I expected I would have met somebody."

"That didn't really happen."

"I didn't want to compromise on not being single for the sake of not being single."

Natalie started considering starting a family by herself during the pandemic but was pushed to look into it properly after a chat with her beautician.

She said: "I realised that I didn't want to miss out."

"I didn't want to miss out on becoming a parent."

Last Christmas Natalie decided she couldn't wait any longer and went for a fertility MOT in January - costing around £500.

She was told there was no reason she couldn't have a baby naturally but was suggested she go for intrauterine insemination (IUI).

But the cost put Natalie off. In the UK the NHS does not routinely fund IUI.

She said: "IUI is £2,000 per round."

"I didn't want go into something in huge debt."

"There's zero funding for single women."

"I don't have tens of thousands to spend."

Natalie initially decided to go down the known donor route and used a matching app.

After eventually finding a match she had her first attempt in September 2024 but it wasn't successful.

Natalie said: "I was half expecting it."

"I'd never tried to get pregnant before."

"It was hard and disappointing."

"I wanted to see before going down a medical route."

"I wanted to give nature more of a chance."

She has now started a fundraiser and is considering her next steps.

Natalie said: "I don't want to keep waiting."

"I want to start the next bit of my life."

"I put dating on the back burner."

"I want to be a mum and that's my goal."

"It's going to happen."

Natalie said most of her friends and family have been supportive but she has had some comments such as 'why don't you just have a one night stand?'.

But Natalie is set on making becoming a mum a reality and will consider adoption later on down the line.

She said: "I can't wait to play, create and make memories and enjoy life through a little persons eyes."

"I've got love to give. I'm ready for the next stage."

"I want other women to know they have options."

"There are multiple ways to become a parent."

You can support Natalie's fundraiser here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-me-fund-my-journey-to-solo-motherhood