According to doctors, a record number of women are having a go at post-menopause pregnancy. A UK fertility clinic was recently approached by two women aged 58 seeking IVF - a move, if realized successfully, would see them become the oldest mothers to give birth following treatment in the UK.

The London Women's Clinic confirmed that it had been consulted by the two patients, but it is too early to say if their requests would be granted.

This comes a month after a bid by a 59-year-old to have treatment at the same Harley Street clinic, which raised the question of ethics in the peculiar matter of whether women aged over 50 should be helped in becoming pregnant or not.

Dr Kamal Ahuja, head of fertility at the London Women's Clinic, confirmed that the women approached his clinic.

“They have approached us and we are talking to them. But we haven't decided yet whether to go forward with treatment or not”, he said. “They are not prevented from coming to talk to us - there is no upper age limit in the UK”.

“But they have to go through a process, we have to talk to their GPs and look at their family circumstances and general health”, he concluded.

Though the NHS has a cut-off point of 39 for IVF treatment, most private clinics allow women to try to conceive up to the age of 50.

Following IVF treatment overseas, British women aged up to 66, indeed, have given birth.