May 13, 2012, Updated May 10, 2012

With a reputation as a world leader in IVF treatment, Israel doubled the number of test tube babies conceived through in-vitro fertilization treatments during the past decade.

A new Health Ministry report shows that some 25 percent of IVF treatments resulted in pregnancy, with 20% of the attempts resulting in a life birth.

According to the new report, an average 4.1% of births in Israel were the result of IVF treatment in 2010 as compared to 2.5% in 1997. Moreover, the number of IVF cycles resulting in pregnancy rose from 4,217 in 2000 to 8,123 in 2010.

The Health Ministry reports that the advanced scientific and medical research in IVF treatments propelled the success rate upwards.

The report showed that the number of women to give birth to a live baby in 2010 was 6,752 as compared to 3,546 mothers who managed to carry a baby to full term in 2000.

Whereas IVF is known to be expensive around the world, Israeli law stipulates that all women be provided with free and unlimited IVF procedures for up to two babies. The number of IVF cycles in 2011 totaled 35,000, compared to 18,011 in 2000.

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