People in Slovenia have voted to overturn a law allowing single women to receive IVF treatment.

A referendum was held on the issue this week in which 72 per cent of people voted to annul the two-month-old law. But turnout for the poll was only 35 per cent.

IVF will now only be available to married women in the Eastern European country, which is 80 per cent Catholic.

The referendum was forced after the law was fiercely attacked by conservative groups and Catholic Church, who argued that it deprived children of their right to a father.

IVF treatment is for single women is allowed in Finland, Britain and Italy but banned in Switzerland and Denmark.