Rene Allen

Dr. Allen is the first doctor who has truly made me feel understood and supported. Dr. Allen is not only incredibly knowledgeable about fertility, but he is also incredibly compassionate. He took the time to listen to my concerns and to answer all of my questions. He also made me feel comfortable talking about my feelings, which was something that I had not been able to do with other doctors. In addition to his excellent medical skills, Dr. Allen also has an incredible bedside manner. He is warm, friendly, and approachable. He made me feel like I was more than just a patient to him but a human being.

The benefit of attending a smaller clinic [Santa Barbara Fertility Center] with one reproductive fertility physician is that you get attentive, individualized care, and the doctor and staff become familiar with you and your fertility journey very quickly. This enhanced my experience as I felt cared for and I felt like I was a priority. I never had to wait long for phone calls for results or instructions and there was never an issue with lost medical records or long waits to get follow-up appointments. This clinic is run very efficiently and staffed by highly experienced staff with no turnover.

How was your experience with Rene Allen at Santa Barbara Fertility Center?

Strengths: Knowledgeable: Dr. Allen has a deep understanding of fertility and the latest treatments. He was able to answer all of my questions and explain my options in a clear and concise way. Compassionate: Dr. Allen is understanding and empathetic. He knows that infertility can be a difficult and emotional journey, and he is there to support you every step of the way. Patient-centered: Dr. Allen puts patients’ needs first. He is always willing to listen to your concerns and to work with you to create a treatment plan that is right for you. Up-to-date: Dr. Allen is always up-to-date on the latest research and treatments. He is always looking for new ways to help his patients achieve their fertility goals. Weaknesses: Time-consuming: Fertility treatments can be time-consuming and he is an in-demand physician so he may not always be available to meet with you on short notice. But I have always been able to speak to him with an appointment to answer all of my questions and concerns. Not always successful: Even with the best doctor, there is no guarantee that fertility treatments will be successful.

What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Rene Allen at Santa Barbara Fertility Center?

Make sure you make an appointment as soon as possible. It can take several months to get on his calendar for an initial consultation. Complete all of the paperwork as soon as possible and collect all of your necessary medical records.

During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Rene Allen at Santa Barbara Fertility Center?

I am writing to express my sincere gratitude to Dr. Allen, a reproductive fertility doctor with incredible bedside manner. Dr. Allen is the first doctor who has truly made me feel understood and supported. Dr. Allen is not only incredibly knowledgeable about fertility, but he is also incredibly compassionate. He took the time to listen to my concerns and to answer all of my questions. He also made me feel comfortable talking about my feelings, which was something that I had not been able to do with other doctors. In addition to his excellent medical skills, Dr. Allen also has an incredible bedside manner. He is warm, friendly, and approachable. He made me feel like I was more than just a patient to him but a human being. He was genuinely interested in my well-being, and he always made me feel like I was in good hands. I am so grateful to Dr. Allen and his staff for his help and expertise. He has made a difficult journey a little bit easier. I highly recommend him to anyone who is struggling with infertility.

Describe the protocols Rene Allen used in your cycles at Santa Barbara Fertility Center and their degree of success.

I underwent three natural cycle frozen embryo transfers (FET). The first one failed to implant, the second was a chemical pregnancy and the third one worked. The protocol was not changed from each cycle but I did have a Lupron Depot shot after the first FET to prevent ovulation.

Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Santa Barbara Fertility Center.

I cannot sing enough praises for Dr. Allen's nursing and office staff. Everyone from the front office, Melinda, to the nurses, Nathali and Karina were excellent, highly experienced, and compassionate individuals that truly cared about their patients and their fertility journey. They knew all of the answers to questions and concerns I had, promptly called me at all times and provided me with requested information (test results and instructions), and treated me with care and dignity. His office runs like clockwork and they are highly efficient, organized, and attentive. I felt like they got to know me and I truly will miss Dr. Allen and his staff.

Describe your experience with Santa Barbara Fertility Center.

The benefit of attending a smaller clinic with one reproductive fertility physician is that you get attentive, individualized care, and the doctor and staff become familiar with you and your fertility journey very quickly. This enhanced my experience as I felt cared for and I felt like I was a priority. I never had to wait long for phone calls for results or instructions and there was never an issue with lost medical records or long waits to get follow-up appointments. This clinic is run very efficiently and staffed by highly experienced staff with no turnover.

Describe the costs associated with your care under Rene Allen at Santa Barbara Fertility Center.

I was privileged to use my employer's fertility benefits to pay for the costs of care under Dr. Allen. His prices seemed reasonable and customary for the area.

Describe Rene Allen's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Santa Barbara Fertility Center.

Dr. Allen recommended a single embryo transfer in an attempt to have one healthy baby at a time for both the safety of the mother and child in accordance with American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) guidelines. Multiple gestations can cause health issues for the mother (high blood pressure, diabetes, need for a cesarean section and delivery complications) as well as complications for the babies (preterm delivery, low birth weight, delayed lung development, neurological issues). However, my third embryo transfer was with two embryos because I had one low level mosaic and one euploid and the euploid ended up being successful.

Doctor

Rene Allen

Humanity

Communication

Frequency Seen

Trustworthiness

Compassion

Explained risks

Adaptability

Clinic

Santa Barbara Fertility Center

Santa Barbara

Operations

Scheduling

Billing Department

Nursing Staff

Clinic Atmosphere

Educational Resources

Review of

Rene Allen Santa Barbara Fertility Center

2017 - 2019, Successful

Age 36 - 38

4 IUI

Latinx

Black or African-American

Native American

Income $50K - $99K

Teacher

Only Doc Seen

LGBTQ+

Strongly Recommends

Successful

Review of

Rene Allen Santa Barbara Fertility Center

Dr. Allen was always super attentive, kind, and answered every possible question my partner or I had. He always welcomed us with a smile and even when the news wasn't so good, he would sit with us instead of rushing out and onto the next patient...As an LGBT couple, I was worried about having to answer uncomfortable questions or ask awkward questions but with Dr. Allen, that was never the case

I cannot say enough good things about this [Santa Barbara Fertility Center] clinic. From the girls at the reception desk to the nurses and everybody in between. From the moment you walk in, you are welcomed and they are as excited for your journey as you are. The scheduling is efficient and quick. Billing is thorough and not confusing at all, they will work with you and with your insurance company.

How was your experience with Rene Allen at Santa Barbara Fertility Center?

Dr. Allen, though he is a male bodied individual, has never spoken to me as if he is the authority on my body. Every step that we took he explained fully and made sure that if we did have any questions we knew that we could call his clinic at any point. Even when I walked in to the clinic for paperwork and he saw me, he would make it a point to say "hello" and ask how I was feeling. At no point did our procedures feel solely clinical and cold. My experience with Dr. Allen's bedside manner and approach to helping us conceive has been such an amazing experience. Despite the fact that I have not been able to stay pregnant I do not have an ill feeling or hesitation about returning to him for more rounds. That is how welcoming and warm this whole journey has been. I genuinely feel lucky and blessed to have him as my sole reproductive provider.

What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Rene Allen at Santa Barbara Fertility Center?

Do not be afraid to ask questions, even those you think might be foolish. He is an amazing source of information and even in just taking a consolation with him he will be very open and honest with the information he has about you and your journey. As an LGBT couple, I was worried about having to answer uncomfortable questions or ask awkward questions but with Dr. Allen, that was never the case. Be you. Authentically.

During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Rene Allen at Santa Barbara Fertility Center?

Describe the protocols Rene Allen used in your cycles at Santa Barbara Fertility Center and their degree of success.

We had established that I would do an IUI on a natural cycle. On the first day of my cycle I called the clinic to schedule an ultrasound, we started taking Clomid in order to stimulate my ovaries. I took the clomid for 7 days. Subsequently I would have ultrasounds throughout in order to check my ovaries and check the egg development. Once it was determined that there were plenty of eggs and their sizes were desirable, we triggered ovulation. This occurred through an injection that was administered at home, by my partner. The nurses at the clinic had taught us how to administer it safely and how to discard of the syringe afterwards. After 24 - 36 hours we were scheduled for the insemination. Dr. Allen would read us the label and have us check that in fact the sperm was ours and the sperm that we had ordered from the cryo bank. Once confirmed, I laid on the warmed up examination table with the legs in stirrups and the insemination process started. Two weeks after the insemination, I would follow up with a pregnancy test at home. On the one occasion that it did come back positive, I was asked to come in and take a blood test in order to confirm. Dr. Allen provided prenatal care until the miscarriage at week 11. After which he too performed the DNC to remove the residual tissue that was not being expelled by my body. Throughout the whole process, he never left us, or pawned us off to another doctor. He saw us through from start to finish.

Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Santa Barbara Fertility Center.

They're a very small clinic and because of this you will be seen been each of their nurses at one point throughout your journey with them. They are the sweetest most compassionate bunch! Not only do they care about you medically but they actually attempt to get to know you personally, beyond the procedures. That one small detail made such a huge difference in how cared for I felt.

Describe your experience with Santa Barbara Fertility Center.

I cannot say enough good things about this clinic. From the girls at the reception desk to the nurses and everybody in between. From the moment you walk in, you are welcomed and they are as excited for your journey as you are. The scheduling is efficient and quick. Billing is thorough and not confusing at all, they will work with you and with your insurance company. If you leave the clinic and have a question that pops up later, calling them and getting an answer is simple and straightforward. There are no machines that have a million "press this number" options. You will get a human every single time, even when they are on lunch! Of course on the weekend and when they are closed that's different but you leave a message and rest assured that they will return your call.

Describe the costs associated with your care under Rene Allen at Santa Barbara Fertility Center.

the IUI procedure (which included some testing) was $875, the trigger shot was $125, the medication was $140, and additional test such as sonohysterogram was $295 at an outside provider.

Doctor

Rene Allen

Humanity

Communication

Frequency Seen

LGBTQ+ Care

Trustworthiness

Compassion

Explained risks

Adaptability

Clinic

Santa Barbara Fertility Center

Santa Barbara

Operations

Scheduling

Billing Department

Nursing Staff

LGBTQ+ Care

Clinic Atmosphere

Educational Resources

Review of

Rene Allen Santa Barbara Fertility Center

2022 - 2023, Successful

Age 31 - 32

3 IUI

Unexplained

European

Income $200K - $499K

Only Doc Seen

Strongly Recommends

Successful

Review of

Rene Allen Santa Barbara Fertility Center

Dr. Allen is sincere and kind. He always takes time to answer any questions you have and doesn’t make you feel like you’re taking too long or that your questions are annoying/dumb...He would personally call with news/updates long after normal business hours are over and I never felt like I couldn’t reach out with more questions...He is honest and won’t give false hope, but has these conversations in a compassionate manner. It always felt like he was in our corner and wanted us to succeed

The [Santa Barbara Fertility Center] clinic clearly has a high standard for showing compassion & treating patients like humans instead of numbers. This is reflected in the kindness, patience & gentleness of the nursing staff. They clearly understand what a delicate process going through fertility treatment can be and interact with their patients with sincerity & professionalism...the record-keeping/organization may need a little updating/tidying up. I never felt like my information was compromised or disorganized, but there is some clutter in parts of the office.

How was your experience with Rene Allen at Santa Barbara Fertility Center?

Dr. Allen clearly cares about his patients. He delicately shares tough information with care. He is honest and won’t give false hope, but has these conversations in a compassionate manner. It always felt like he was in our corner and wanted us to succeed, not just his clinic to succeed. The process of going through fertility treatments is exhausting and mentally/emotionally taxing and his calm demeanor helped lessen the blow.

What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Rene Allen at Santa Barbara Fertility Center?

Come prepared with whatever questions you have. Don’t be afraid to ask questions or give follow-up calls. They’re a busy clinic but will always take the time to address issues/questions when you ask.

During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Rene Allen at Santa Barbara Fertility Center?

Dr. Allen is sincere and kind. He always takes time to answer any questions you have and doesn’t make you feel like you’re taking too long or that your questions are annoying/dumb. The clinic is obviously very busy and I know that the business of being a fertility specialist is time-sensitive and time-demanding, but he always felt present and caring each time we saw him. He would personally call with news/updates long after normal business hours are over and I never felt like I couldn’t reach out with more questions.

Describe the protocols Rene Allen used in your cycles at Santa Barbara Fertility Center and their degree of success.

We did 3 IUI cycles for unexplained infertility. Two with clomid + trigger shot and one with letrozole + trigger shot. None were successful. The plan was to do 3 or 4 IUI cycles before moving on to IVF. After the 3rd I developed a hormonal cyst that postponed my 4th IUI. The following month was hectic for me so I opted to do a medicated cycle with letrozole with timed intercourse instead of a trigger shot + IUI. I got pregnant on that cycle. It’s hard to say if the medication helped since ovulation was never our issue, but happy with the result nonetheless.

Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Santa Barbara Fertility Center.

The clinic clearly has a high standard for showing compassion & treating patients like humans instead of numbers. This is reflected in the kindness, patience & gentleness of the nursing staff. They clearly understand what a delicate process going through fertility treatment can be and interact with their patients with sincerity & professionalism.

Describe your experience with Santa Barbara Fertility Center.

I don’t have anything to compare it to, but the record-keeping/organization may need a little updating/tidying up. I never felt like my information was compromised or disorganized, but there is some clutter in parts of the office. Additionally, I wasn’t personally concerned about this, and don’t know if there is a solution, but some amount of patient privacy is not achievable with a small office & living in a town as small as Santa Barbara. Expect to see the same people in the waiting room & probably hear some information about other people’s treatments.

Describe the costs associated with your care under Rene Allen at Santa Barbara Fertility Center.

Consultation - either free or covered by insurance. I can’t remember. Clomid with insurance $5, without insurance $30, trigger shot $120 for 2 month supply (couldn’t buy just one month), IUI procedure $400

Doctor

Rene Allen

Humanity

Communication

Frequency Seen

Trustworthiness

Compassion

Explained risks

Adaptability

Clinic

Santa Barbara Fertility Center

Santa Barbara

Operations

Scheduling

Billing Department

Nursing Staff

Clinic Atmosphere

Educational Resources

Review of

Rene Allen Santa Barbara Fertility Center

2016 - 2021, Successful

Age 30 - 35

4 IUI

1 IVF

Endometriosis

Male Factor

European

Engineer

2nd of 2 Docs

Fertility Medications With Other Docs

Strongly Recommends

Successful

Review of

Rene Allen Santa Barbara Fertility Center

Dr. Allen shows empathy, gives you your options, and let’s you direct your care. He is genuine and kind...He treated me like an individual and made a type of treatment that most people would be nervous about as comfortable as possible. He was very respectful during examinations and always made sure I was comfortable. I never had any unnecessary pain or discomfort after procedures from him. I always felt I was getting advice on the safest course of action when applicable. He asked great questions to collaborate on direction of care and always answered my questions thoroughly and honestly. He was very compassionate when we had setbacks and celebrated our successes with us.

[Santa Barbara Fertility Center] Front desk staff is absolutely amazing and super organized. They felt like extended family by the end of our treatment. They help you find out upfront what your insurance will and will not cover. I can’t think of any cons...Dr. Allen shows empathy, gives you your options, and let’s you direct your care. He is genuine and kind...He thoroughly explained tests, procedures, results, and options for care. He treated me like an individual and made a type of treatment that most people would be nervous about as comfortable as possible. He was very respectful during examinations and always made sure I was comfortable. I never had any unnecessary pain or discomfort after procedures from him. I always felt I was getting advice on the safest course of action when applicable. He asked great questions to collaborate on direction of care and always answered my questions thoroughly and honestly. He was very compassionate when we had setbacks a

How was your experience with Rene Allen at Santa Barbara Fertility Center?

From our first visit in 2016 to our last visit in 2021, he was very organized and great at explaining the overall process and options. He thoroughly explained tests, procedures, results, and options for care. He treated me like an individual and made a type of treatment that most people would be nervous about as comfortable as possible. He was very respectful during examinations and always made sure I was comfortable. I never had any unnecessary pain or discomfort after procedures from him. I always felt I was getting advice on the safest course of action when applicable. He asked great questions to collaborate on direction of care and always answered my questions thoroughly and honestly. He was very compassionate when we had setbacks and celebrated our successes with us.

What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Rene Allen at Santa Barbara Fertility Center?

This some of the best medical care I have received period. You are in great hands.

During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Rene Allen at Santa Barbara Fertility Center?

Dr. Allen shows empathy, gives you your options, and let’s you direct your care. He is genuine and kind.

Describe the protocols Rene Allen used in your cycles at Santa Barbara Fertility Center and their degree of success.

I don’t really remember

Describe your experience with your nurse at Santa Barbara Fertility Center. (Assigned nurse: There were two different Natalies, one for each pregnancy)

The first Natalie I worked with in 2017 was perfect. She was so kind, funny, and organized. Great at blood draws. The second Natalie I saw in 2021 had great bedside manner and was super compassionate and empathetic, but I think a little less organized and mediocre at blood draws.

Describe your experience with Santa Barbara Fertility Center.

Front desk staff is absolutely amazing and super organized. They felt like extended family by the end of our treatment. They help you find out upfront what your insurance will and will not cover. I can’t think of any cons.

Describe the costs associated with your care under Rene Allen at Santa Barbara Fertility Center.

I think it was $1200 per IUI and $15000-$17000 per IVF cycle. My insurance did not cover anything

Describe Rene Allen's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Santa Barbara Fertility Center.

The recommended quantity of embryos to transfer was based on age and some other factors. He suggested single embryo transfer and I was very happy he suggested that, because looking back on it I’m glad I didn’t have to carry multiples.

Doctor

Rene Allen

Humanity

Communication

Frequency Seen

Trustworthiness

Compassion

Explained risks

Adaptability

Clinic

Santa Barbara Fertility Center

Santa Barbara

Operations

Scheduling

Billing Department

Nursing Staff

Clinic Atmosphere

Educational Resources

Review of

Rene Allen Santa Barbara Fertility Center

2021, Successful

Age 31

Unexplained

European

Income $100K - $199K

Nurse or HC Services

2nd of 2 Docs

1 IUI With Other Docs

1 IVF With Other Docs

1 Egg Freezing With Other Docs

Strongly Recommends

Successful

Review of

Rene Allen Santa Barbara Fertility Center

Dr. Allen is a warm and approachable fertility specialist...formed a collaborative partnership with us to reach our goal of a having another child. He remembered my medical background and did not overly simplify explanations. He always addressed my questions and answered what I was asking...We never felt rushed during our visits...Dr. Allen recommended we transfer a single embryo...

They [Santa Barbara Fertility Center] communicate well and really include the patient and partner in the process and decisions. Cost was not a deciding factor us, but Dr. Allen’s fees are more reasonable and include a mock cycle to ensure that your embryo transfer occurs on the most optimal day. I liked that there were not surprise charges for each separate test or thing...

How was your experience with Rene Allen at Santa Barbara Fertility Center?

Dr. Allen is a warm and approachable fertility specialist. At a previous clinic, I struggled with feeling like I was a hassle and asking too many questions. Often, I felt patronised and like it was a patriarchal approach to medicine. When we switched to Dr. Allen, it was like a breath of fresh air. Dr. Allen, from the start, formed a collaborative partnership with us to reach our goal of a having another child. He remembered my medical background and did not overly simplify explanations. He always addressed my questions and answered what I was asking. The icing on the cake was the small thoughtful touches in his bedside manner and office. For instance, when a speculum had to be used, it was warmed, he let me know what he was doing beforehand, and he inquired about my comfort during the exam. The office also had nice, quality feminine products available for any spotting after exams.

What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Rene Allen at Santa Barbara Fertility Center?

Call and set up the consultation early because they are usually booked out for a few months for consults! Don’t wait to start your journey with Dr. Allen. If you’re unhappy with the provider you’re at now and are thinking about switching, take the leap! It was so worth it!

During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Rene Allen at Santa Barbara Fertility Center?

Dr. Allen and his team were warm and welcoming during each phone call, email, and office visit. The staff was attentive and timely in checking us in at each visit. Dr. Allen often addressed questions we had before we even asked just from experience and understanding his patients’ concerns. We never felt rushed during our visits. I think the most contributing factor to feeling like we were not just a number to him was that my husband was allowed at our appointments during the pandemic.

Describe your experience with your nurse at Santa Barbara Fertility Center. (Assigned nurse: Nathali)

Nathali was everything a patient wants when seeking care. She is kind, compassionate, and dedicated to her patients. She has come in on the weekend to get help us locate medications when the pharmacy I had been using was being difficult. She always returns my calls and messages promptly, sometimes after hours when urgent. She really took a lot of the stress of the process off our shoulders, which I contribute to the success of our cycle.

Describe your experience with Santa Barbara Fertility Center.

Their strengths include providing personable fertility care and being considerate of women and their partners throughout the process. They are timely, yet warm and compassionate. They communicate well and really include the patient and partner in the process and decisions. Cost was not a deciding factor us, but Dr. Allen’s fees are more reasonable and include a mock cycle to ensure that your embryo transfer occurs on the most optimal day. I liked that there were not surprise charges for each separate test or thing. It really lowered the stress levels.

Describe the costs associated with your care under Rene Allen at Santa Barbara Fertility Center.

Our embryo transfer was $3000, which included all the lab work, ultrasounds, embryo transfer, assisted hatching, and if needed, an ERA prior to the transfer. We also paid $625 for a year of storage for our embryos when we transferred them to Dr. Allen’s clinic. He let us use the clinic’s tank and transport them ourself to save on costs and time as well.

Describe Rene Allen's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Santa Barbara Fertility Center.

Dr. Allen recommended we transfer a single embryo, especially since ours PGS tested and shown to be genetically normal. He seems to be open to transferring more than one embryo but we reviewed the research and decided to follow the guidelines of ASRM.

Doctor

Rene Allen

Humanity

Communication

Frequency Seen

Trustworthiness

Compassion

Explained risks

Adaptability

Clinic

Santa Barbara Fertility Center

Santa Barbara

Operations

Scheduling

Billing Department

Nursing Staff

Clinic Atmosphere

Educational Resources

Review of

Rene Allen Santa Barbara Fertility Center

2018 - 2020, Unknown Success

Age 35 - 37

2 IUI

1 IVF

Male Factor

Unexplained

Income $100K - $199K

Nurse or HC Services

Only Doc Seen

Neutral

Strongly Recommends

Success w/ Doc Too early to know

Review of

Rene Allen Santa Barbara Fertility Center

Dr. Allen is warm and easy to confide in. He makes you feel comfortable. I have been going to him for two year now. He guided me through a miscarriage and was very supportive. He is also doesn’t sugar coat anything. He will be honest about risks and the probability of treatments working or not...[he] will do what you feel comfortable with. He never recommended or even brought up a multiple transfer to me.

She [Santa Barbara Fertility Center nurse]ordered all of my meds and found the cheapest routes. She was always available by email, even during her vacation...The staff and office is small, which makes you feel at home. The girls instantly make you feel welcome and like you are family. The parking situation can be tricky, but isn’t a huge deal. Dr. Allen is busy, so expect the appointments to be quick. Yet he is always willing to answer any question and wants you to ask questions.

How was your experience with Rene Allen at Santa Barbara Fertility Center?

What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Rene Allen at Santa Barbara Fertility Center?

have your questions ready for him before the appointment. Have them written down.

During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Rene Allen at Santa Barbara Fertility Center?

Dr. Allen is very warm and Office staff are wonderful. He personally called me everyday after fertilization to let me know how my embryos were growing.

Describe the protocols Rene Allen used in your cycles at Santa Barbara Fertility Center and their degree of success.

IUI’s were very straightforward. Bloodwork and weekly ultrasounds. Plus Clomid and an HCG trigger shot. He also recommended inter course after the procedure to increase chances of success. For IVF he likes to go with the most affordable and minimal medication necessary. This varies with diagnosis. Bloodwork and ultrasounds to monitor follicles determine the amount of medication you take that day. I was on menopur , gonadotropin, and had the med that stops ovulation. Forgot what it is called. Starts with a C. I did have to take it for a few days before the retrieval, because my follicles were getting to big. I also had an HCG Trigger timed specifically for my retrieval.

Describe your experience with your nurse at Santa Barbara Fertility Center. (Assigned nurse: Stacie )

Stacie was a godsend. She ordered all of my meds and found the cheapest routes. She was always available by email, even during her vacation.

Describe your experience with Santa Barbara Fertility Center.

The staff and office is small, which makes you feel at home. The girls instantly make you feel welcome and like you are family. The parking situation can be tricky, but isn’t a huge deal. Dr. Allen is busy, so expect the appointments to be quick. Yet he is always willing to answer any question and wants you to ask questions.

Describe the costs associated with your care under Rene Allen at Santa Barbara Fertility Center.

Appointments were covered by insurance. I’m only given an allotted amount for fertility and it has been used. 15,000. Anesthesiologist was paid separately 475$. Meds were 4,000. He has package deals for IVF.

Describe Rene Allen's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Santa Barbara Fertility Center.

Dr. Allen will do what you feel comfortable with. He never recommended or even brought up a multiple transfer to me.

Doctor

Rene Allen

Humanity

Communication

Frequency Seen

Trustworthiness

Compassion

Explained risks

Adaptability

Clinic

Santa Barbara Fertility Center

Santa Barbara

Operations

Scheduling

Billing Department

Nursing Staff

Clinic Atmosphere

Educational Resources

Review of

Rene Allen Santa Barbara Fertility Center

2019 - 2020, Unsuccessful

Age 30 - 31

3 IUI

1 IVF

Male Factor

Tubal Blockage

Unexplained

Income $50K - $99K

Only Doc Seen

Fertility Medications With Other Docs

Doesn't Recommend

Unsuccessful

Review of

Rene Allen Santa Barbara Fertility Center

[Dr. Rene Allen] He is very quiet. He gives all the info you need to know if you ask the right questions. I have left his office a few times confused and would have to call to get things clarified by the nurses...We started with a physical exam, blood work, genetic testing and a HSG. We did three rounds of IUI with clomid and a trigger shot. The dosage of clomid was different the last two rounds. Then we moved on to IVF after all the IUIs failed

[Santa Barbara Fertility Center]Their strengths are that they are well organized, can be informative and are compassionate. Their weakness is lack of commutation sometimes. I feel like I have to do a lot of research because things were communicated well or I’ll call because I haven’t heard back from them soon enough...$3,000 for each IUI $11,000 for IVF $3,000 for frozen transfer $5,000 for meds

How was your experience with Rene Allen at Santa Barbara Fertility Center?

He is very quiet. He gives all the info you need to know if you ask the right questions. I have left his office a few times confused and would have to call to get things clarified by the nurses. So I try and do my own research before my next appointment.

What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Rene Allen at Santa Barbara Fertility Center?

Do your research before hand and ask lots of questions. He will only inform you details if you ask about it.

During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Rene Allen at Santa Barbara Fertility Center?

Dr.Allen is very kind and is always informative. His staff is loving and cares for your mental health along side your physical health. However sometimes I feel like Dr. Allen will only give information if you ask. So I have to do a lot of research before hand.

Describe the protocols Rene Allen used in your cycles at Santa Barbara Fertility Center and their degree of success.

We started with a physical exam, blood work, genetic testing and a HSG. We did three rounds of IUI with clomid and a trigger shot. The dosage of clomid was different the last two rounds. Then we moved on to IVF after all the IUIs failed. We did hormone injections, egg retrieval and a fresh transfer. After first attempted failed we did a fake round of treatment to do a biopsy to see if my body was retaining the hormones properly. Then did a frozen transfer round after the biopsy came back normal. That round failed and we did another fake round to do a biopsy to see if the timing was correct. It came back normal so we moved on to the next frozen transfer cycle and that failed. We did another frozen transfer round and that failed too. We stopped treatment after because of COVID-19

Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Santa Barbara Fertility Center.

I love the nursing staff! They treat you like a real person. They talk to you can make sure you’re well mentally. They hug you when your sad from a failed treatment. I overall feel well cared for by them.

Describe your experience with Santa Barbara Fertility Center.

Their strengths are that they are well organized, can be informative and are compassionate. Their weakness is lack of commutation sometimes. I feel like I have to do a lot of research because things were communicated well or I’ll call because I haven’t heard back from them soon enough.

Describe the costs associated with your care under Rene Allen at Santa Barbara Fertility Center.

$3,000 for each IUI $11,000 for IVF $3,000 for frozen transfer $5,000 for meds

Describe Rene Allen's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Santa Barbara Fertility Center.

Dr.Allen let us make the decision of how many eggs to transfer. He would make his recommendations and we would decide. He wouldn’t recommend more than two.

What specific things went wrong at Santa Barbara Fertility Center?

Lost or damaged samples

Describe the specific things that went wrong at Santa Barbara Fertility Center.

Dr.Allen did a biopsy in my uterus (very painful) and accidental put it in the wrong sample cup and had to do the procedure all over again.

Doctor

Rene Allen

Humanity

Communication

Frequency Seen

Trustworthiness

Compassion

Explained risks

Adaptability

Clinic

Santa Barbara Fertility Center

Santa Barbara

Operations

Scheduling

Billing Department

Nursing Staff

Clinic Atmosphere

Educational Resources

Review of

Rene Allen Santa Barbara Fertility Center

2020, Successful

Age 39

3 IUI

Diminished Ovarian Reserve

Endometriosis

Recurrent Pregnancy Loss

Unexplained

European

Income $100K - $199K

2nd of 2 Docs

2 Fertility Medications With Other Docs

Strongly Recommends

Successful

Review of

Rene Allen Santa Barbara Fertility Center

He [Dr. Allen] was extremely thorough, friendly, and kind. He acknowledged the trauma we had been through and worked with us to help us feel comfortable. He always answered any questions we had and we never felt pressured into making a decision. Information was explained in a clear way. We felt like he really took into account everything going on with us and looked at the bigger picture...He would only do IUI if there was more than one follicle that had matured, because otherwise the odds were not very good...

All of the nursing staff [Santa Barbara Fertility Center] are extremely kind people. They all were very empathetic to our situation, treated us with respect, and we really appreciated the care we got from them...roughly $2k for each IUI round...they have paper charts, which means that the Dr. can review everything before he comes in the room. We felt like everything was run very well, and even though they must see hundreds of people, you never feel like you're one of many patients. Parking can be tricky, and doing IUI can be stressful because there are hours between when they take the sample and inseminate, so we had to sit in our car which wasn't really ideal...

How was your experience with Rene Allen at Santa Barbara Fertility Center?

He was extremely thorough, friendly, and kind. He acknowledged the trauma we had been through and worked with us to help us feel comfortable. He always answered any questions we had and we never felt pressured into making a decision. Information was explained in a clear way. We felt like he really took into account everything going on with us and looked at the bigger picture.

What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Rene Allen at Santa Barbara Fertility Center?

Make sure you have questions ready, and if you are indecisive, really make sure to ask questions because he will give you info and will not tell you "you need to do this". He lets you decide what you are doing, which can be overwhelming.

During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Rene Allen at Santa Barbara Fertility Center?

He always was friendly and warm, and explained everything he was going to do in a matter of fact way. He was patient and never seemed rushed, despite it being an extremely busy practice. We felt like he was very focused on each individual he was treating, and we never felt like just another number.

Describe the protocols Rene Allen used in your cycles at Santa Barbara Fertility Center and their degree of success.

We did IUI with Femera during the cycle, and then a trigger shot. He did this so that we got more follicles since I have diminished reserve.

Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Santa Barbara Fertility Center.

All of the nursing staff are extremely kind people. They all were very empathetic to our situation, treated us with respect, and we really appreciated the care we got from them.

Describe your experience with Santa Barbara Fertility Center.

The clinic is one of the best I have ever been to. They don't make you show your insurance and ID over and over or act like you're a brand new patient every time you come in. They remember you. and they have paper charts, which means that the Dr. can review everything before he comes in the room. We felt like everything was run very well, and even though they must see hundreds of people, you never feel like you're one of many patients. Parking can be tricky, and doing IUI can be stressful because there are hours between when they take the sample and inseminate, so we had to sit in our car which wasn't really ideal. I wish there was a separate waiting area or something closeby for people who have come from out of town.

Describe the costs associated with your care under Rene Allen at Santa Barbara Fertility Center.

It was roughly $2k for each IUI round.

Describe Rene Allen's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Santa Barbara Fertility Center.

He would only do IUI if there was more than one follicle that had matured, because otherwise the odds were not very good.

Doctor

Rene Allen

Humanity

Communication

Frequency Seen

Trustworthiness

Compassion

Explained risks

Adaptability

Clinic

Santa Barbara Fertility Center

Santa Barbara

Operations

Scheduling

Billing Department

Nursing Staff

Clinic Atmosphere

Educational Resources

Review of

Rene Allen Santa Barbara Fertility Center

2019, Unsuccessful

Age 41

1 IVF

Poor Egg Quality

Income $500K+

Lawyer

2nd of 2 Docs

1 IVF With Other Docs

1 Egg Freezing With Other Docs

Neutral

Unsuccessful

Review of

Rene Allen Santa Barbara Fertility Center

don't expect someone with a warm bedside manner. Otherwise, know that you are in good hands with a good doctor [Dr. Rene Allen]...I was on a standard antagonist protocol...once my follicles got big enough...Dr. Allen tweaked the dosage after every visit and blood test results. I responded very well so I didn't end up having to be on as high of a dosage as he expected...will really work with you and for the most part, will go along with your requests. For example, while he recommends PGS for the over 40 crowd, he will do fresh transfers of multiple untested blasts if that's what you want. On the flip side, sometimes I felt like he was a little *too* open - I wanted him to tell me what the best path was.

I don't know if she was a nurse per se, but someone [from Santa Barbara Fertility Center] contacted me every afternoon with my blood test results and my instructions as to my dosage. I didn't interact with her much beyond that. The phlebetomist was great and all my blood draws went very smoothly...My IVF cycle, including PGS but not an FET, cost approximately $21K, which is about average in California. Meds were an additional $6K or so...Because Santa Barbara is so small, there aren't a ton of options when it comes to fertility treatment (a rude awakening for me, coming from a big city). Several women recommended Dr. Allen and his clinic to me, and I think he is a fine choice. I do think that because he's a one person clinic, you don't get the multiple perspectives you might get from a clinic with more doctors. Also again because of the size, I'm not sure if they have always have a full time embryologist on staff, and you have batch retrievals, which I don't love (but plenty of larger clinics do that too).

How was your experience with Rene Allen at Santa Barbara Fertility Center?

Dr. Allen, like most REs I have met with, is not of the warm and fuzzy type. I've concluded that that must be at least in part due to the nature of the job - bad news has to be communicated at a frequent rate and many, many women are unable to get pregnant and carry to term. Nonetheless, Dr. Allen otherwise struck me as smart, professional and up to date on the research. He is the type of doctor who will answer all of your questions thoroughly and carefully, but you must come prepared - he seems to err on the side of giving less information unless you ask a lot of questions. Overall, I was generally pleased with the quality of care I received from him. He does all of his ultrasounds himself (with a female nurse present) and gives you the results once you are dressed and have stepped outside. I wish he were a little more accessible via email but that's a minor issue.

What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Rene Allen at Santa Barbara Fertility Center?

Be prepared - know your history and your diagnosis, and come prepared with lots of questions. And don't expect someone with a warm bedside manner. Otherwise, know that you are in good hands with a good doctor.

During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Rene Allen at Santa Barbara Fertility Center?

Dr. Allen's practice is small, and he is the only doctor, so in general, you don't feel like you are part of an assembly line. The staff is generally friendly and polite, and on top of paperwork, billing, etc.

Describe the protocols Rene Allen used in your cycles at Santa Barbara Fertility Center and their degree of success.

I was on a standard antagonist protocol (300 units Follistim, 150 menopur, HGH, Ganirelix once my follicles got big enough, 5000 IU Pregnyl trigger) and Dr. Allen tweaked the dosage after every visit and blood test results. I responded very well so I didn't end up having to be on as high of a dosage as he expected.

Describe your experience with your nurse at Santa Barbara Fertility Center.

I don't know if she was a nurse per se, but someone contacted me every afternoon with my blood test results and my instructions as to my dosage. I didn't interact with her much beyond that. The phlebetomist was great and all my blood draws went very smoothly.

Describe your experience with Santa Barbara Fertility Center.

Because Santa Barbara is so small, there aren't a ton of options when it comes to fertility treatment (a rude awakening for me, coming from a big city). Several women recommended Dr. Allen and his clinic to me, and I think he is a fine choice. I do think that because he's a one person clinic, you don't get the multiple perspectives you might get from a clinic with more doctors. Also again because of the size, I'm not sure if they have always have a full time embryologist on staff, and you have batch retrievals, which I don't love (but plenty of larger clinics do that too).

Describe the costs associated with your care under Rene Allen at Santa Barbara Fertility Center.

My IVF cycle, including PGS but not an FET, cost approximately $21K, which is about average in California. Meds were an additional $6K or so.

Describe Rene Allen's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Santa Barbara Fertility Center.

Dr. Allen will really work with you and for the most part, will go along with your requests. For example, while he recommends PGS for the over 40 crowd, he will do fresh transfers of multiple untested blasts if that's what you want. On the flip side, sometimes I felt like he was a little *too* open - I wanted him to tell me what the best path was.

Doctor

Rene Allen

Humanity

Communication

Frequency Seen

Trustworthiness

Compassion

Explained risks

Adaptability

Clinic

Santa Barbara Fertility Center

Santa Barbara

Operations

Scheduling

Billing Department

Nursing Staff

Clinic Atmosphere

Educational Resources

Review of

Rene Allen Santa Barbara Fertility Center

2019, Successful

Age 41

6 IVF

Poor Egg Quality

European

Income $500K

Lawyer

Only Doc Seen

Strongly Recommends

Successful

Review of

Rene Allen Santa Barbara Fertility Center

Dr. Allen strongly advises against DET with PGS tested embryos but will allow it if the patient is adamant. Beyond that, it’s age dependent. I felt he definitely took my age into account when allowing us to transfer four embryos, which resulted in my current first pregnancy at almost 42 years old...From the beginning, Dr. Allen was confident we could conceive using my own eggs, and he was right. In addition to the little girl I'm carrying, we made 7 PGS normal embryos and one segmental mosaic, remarkable results given my age.

My primary nurse [at Santa Barbara Fertility Center], Natali, could not have been more compassionate or lovely. I wish I could continue to see her throughout my pregnancy...We did 6 cycles and I still haven’t seen a bill...Clinic is small but well run. Seeing Dr. Allen every appointment is a big plus. Only major negative for IVF is that they do not have a full time embryologist, so your cycles have to be scheduled around the traveling embryologists’ schedules.

How was your experience with Rene Allen at Santa Barbara Fertility Center?

We cannot say enough good things about SB Fertility and Dr. Allen. My husband and I did not start trying until I turned 40, so we expected an uphill battle, but at every point in the process we felt we were in great hands with Dr. Allen. Shortly after my first appointment, he diagnosed me with a septate uterus, which he repaired through surgery this summer, clearing the way for a successful first transfer 3 months before my 42nd birthday. From the beginning, Dr. Allen was confident we could conceive using my own eggs, and he was right. In addition to the little girl I'm carrying, we made 7 PGS normal embryos and one segmental mosaic, remarkable results given my age. At no point did I feel like I was receiving treatment from a "local clinic." Not only did we have better success than that advertised by some of the clinics renowned for treating women over 40, Dr. Allen followed a cutting edge protocol (including HGH). He was also willing to transfer my mosaic and even to try certain abnormals (after consultation with a geneticist) had we needed to do so, but since we only want one more baby, I am hopeful it won't come to that.

What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Rene Allen at Santa Barbara Fertility Center?

Write down your questions before an appointment, it can be hard to think of them while talking to him after an exam.

During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Rene Allen at Santa Barbara Fertility Center?

We had 3 PGS normal embryos after the first round, 5 after the second. I desperately wanted a girl, though, and we only had boy embryos banked. Knowing I likely wouldn’t be able to make more healthy embryos after a pregnancy, Dr. Allen allowed me to continue trying for a girl though I’m sure it hurt his numbers.

Describe the protocols Rene Allen used in your cycles at Santa Barbara Fertility Center and their degree of success.

Dr. Allen added HGH for my last 3 cycles, which I believe played an important role in helping us have a successful first transfer. He also allowed us to transfer four embryos - 2 early blasts, 2 morulas- for which I am forever grateful because that’s how we ended up with the little girl I’m carrying.

Describe your experience with your nurse at Santa Barbara Fertility Center. (Assigned nurse: Nathali)

My primary nurse, Natali, could not have been more compassionate or lovely. I wish I could continue to see her throughout my pregnancy.

Describe your experience with Santa Barbara Fertility Center.

Clinic is small but well run. Seeing Dr. Allen every appointment is a big plus. Only major negative for IVF is that they do not have a full time embryologist, so your cycles have to be scheduled around the traveling embryologists’ schedules.

Describe the costs associated with your care under Rene Allen at Santa Barbara Fertility Center.

We did 6 cycles and I still haven’t seen a bill.

Describe Rene Allen's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Santa Barbara Fertility Center.

Doctor

Rene Allen

Humanity

Communication

Frequency Seen

Trustworthiness

Compassion

Explained risks

Adaptability

Clinic

Santa Barbara Fertility Center

Santa Barbara

Operations

Scheduling

Nursing Staff

Clinic Atmosphere

Educational Resources

Review of

Rene Allen Santa Barbara Fertility Center

2019, Successful

Age 35

2 IUI

1 IVF

Unexplained

Income $100K - $199K

Only Doc Seen

Strongly Recommends

Successful

Review of

Rene Allen Santa Barbara Fertility Center

My doctor [Dr. Rene Allen] suggested transferring 1 embryo based on data (which was provided via an informational pamphlet) but afforded us the option of transferring 2...does a great job at managing expectations as well as time...It took me a while to realize that his brevity is intentional, to not only manage expectations but to also manage his time. He has been an excellent provider and I deeply respect him and his practice.

For IUI, each procedure was between $1100-1500 [at Santa Barbara Fertility Center]. For IVF, the medications were $5000, IVF retrieval and transfer were just over $11,000...Fantastic clinic, through and through. The operation of this clinic is amazingly efficient, from the staff to the doctor. I also appreciate the ambiance and environment of the clinic. They are considerate of the various stages that women are experiencing and tend to schedule various visits throughout the week, not only for efficiency but also consideration for the patients.

How was your experience with Rene Allen at Santa Barbara Fertility Center?

Dr. Allen is an amazing professional who runs a fantastic operation. He is excellent at managing expectations and exercises a great deal of patience to women who are hormonal and emotional. Do not take his efficiency for lack of consideration or care, this man runs a tight, efficient and effective ship which resulted in our successful pregnancy.

What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Rene Allen at Santa Barbara Fertility Center?

Make sure to do your research about Assisted Reproductive Technology and the various methods of treatment beforehand, so you can use your consultation to get as many questions answered in a private setting (and with more time allowed) as possible. Once you begin treatments, the clinic runs like a very tight ship and so Dr. Allen doesn't have a lot of time for extraneous chitchat and conversations.

During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Rene Allen at Santa Barbara Fertility Center?

Dr. Allen does a great job at managing expectations as well as time. I can only imagine the position he is in, dealing with hormonal, emotional women who are desperately seeking his services... I was one of them. It took me a while to realize that his brevity is intentional, to not only manage expectations but to also manage his time. He has been an excellent provider and I deeply respect him and his practice.

Describe the protocols Rene Allen used in your cycles at Santa Barbara Fertility Center and their degree of success.

I believe I was put on an Antagonist protocol, based on the medications and timing of them that I was prescribed. My shots included Menopur, GonalF, Cetrotide at various times throughout the period of 10-12 days, with a Pregnyl trigger shot.

Describe your experience with Santa Barbara Fertility Center.

Fantastic clinic, through and through. The operation of this clinic is amazingly efficient, from the staff to the doctor. I also appreciate the ambiance and environment of the clinic. They are considerate of the various stages that women are experiencing and tend to schedule various visits throughout the week, not only for efficiency but also consideration for the patients.

Describe the costs associated with your care under Rene Allen at Santa Barbara Fertility Center.

For IUI, each procedure was between $1100-1500. For IVF, the medications were $5000, IVF retrieval and transfer were just over $11,000.

Describe Rene Allen's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Santa Barbara Fertility Center.

My doctor suggested transferring 1 embryo based on data (which was provided via an informational pamphlet) but afforded us the option of transferring 2.

Doctor

Rene Allen

Humanity

Communication

Frequency Seen

Trustworthiness

Compassion

Explained risks

Adaptability

Clinic

Santa Barbara Fertility Center

Santa Barbara

Operations

Scheduling

Billing Department

Nursing Staff

Clinic Atmosphere

Educational Resources

Review of

Rene Allen Santa Barbara Fertility Center

2018 - 2019, Unknown Success

Age 34 - 35

3 Fertility Medications

Unexplained

European

Income $50K - $99K

Marketer or PR

3rd of 3 Docs

1 IUI With Other Docs

Strongly Recommends

Success w/ Doc Too early to know

Review of

Rene Allen Santa Barbara Fertility Center

I have been extremely pleased with the care I have received so far from Dr. Allen. He is so kind, so attentive and makes sure you are at ease, even on the hardest days. He is honest without being harsh, direct without being rude and has always made me feel like I am important and addresses my concerns. ... He has also never pushed me off on an NP or nurse: he is always at my appointments and always attentive to me and my husband.

They [SBFC] are available, invested in your care and very passionate about what they do. Weaknesses: they have so many people who want to get in that it takes some time to get an appointment. ... From Araceli (receptionist) to Carina and the rest of the nurses everyone has been incredibly kind, empathetic, personable and treated me like a human. ... IUI: $1,000 Genetic testing cost varies depending on insurance.

How was your experience with Rene Allen at Santa Barbara Fertility Center?

I have been extremely pleased with the care I have received so far from Dr. Allen. He is so kind, so attentive and makes sure you are at ease, even on the hardest days. He is honest without being harsh, direct without being rude and has always made me feel like I am important and addresses my concerns. On the few instances that I’ve needed to text him with questions (once on Christmas Day) he answered me quickly and never made me feel bad for asking. I highly recommend him to anyone who is ready for a good, kind, proactive doctor.

What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Rene Allen at Santa Barbara Fertility Center?

Be prepared for an extensive questionnaire and bring a list of questions you want answered.

During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Rene Allen at Santa Barbara Fertility Center?

I call Dr. Allen “Doctor Wonderful”. He is kind and attentive, he’s good natured but honest, he helps ease nerves without making you feel silly. He answers your text messages on weekends and holidays, he comes in early on a full day to make sure he fits you in and he never rushes you out of the room so he can get to his next appointment. He has also never pushed me off on an NP or nurse: he is always at my appointments and always attentive to me and my husband.

Describe the protocols Rene Allen used in your cycles at Santa Barbara Fertility Center and their degree of success.

I had a horrible experience before going to Dr. Allen, and was diagnosed with PCOS by another doctor and did one round of Letrozole with a trigger shot (Ovidrel). After looking at my tests and running a few of his own, Dr Allen concluded this was a misdiagnosis. This is what I have done with Dr Allen. Cycle 1: natural (timed intercourse and no medication) to see if I was ovulating in my own (I was). Ultrasounds and bloodwork were done as well as hormone and genetic testing. No pregnancy but lots of answers that my body was functioning properly. Cycle 2: 100 mg of Clomid and timed intercourse. No pregnancy. Cycle 3: 100 mg of Clomid, trigger shot (Pregnyl) and IUI. No pregnancy Cycle 4: in this now. 100 mg of Clomid and second IUI.

Describe your experience with your nurse at Santa Barbara Fertility Center. (Assigned nurse: Carina )

From Araceli (receptionist) to Carina and the rest of the nurses everyone has been incredibly kind, empathetic, personable and treated me like a human. They have always been a joy to work with.

Describe your experience with Santa Barbara Fertility Center.

Strengths: quality of care, bedside manner, organized, efficient, attentive. They are available, invested in your care and very passionate about what they do. Weaknesses: they have so many people who want to get in that it takes some time to get an appointment.

Describe the costs associated with your care under Rene Allen at Santa Barbara Fertility Center.

IUI: $1,000 Genetic testing cost varies depending on insurance. Fertility medication I paid a copay at the pharmacy.

Describe Rene Allen's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Santa Barbara Fertility Center.

I have no experience with this.

Doctor

Rene Allen

Humanity

Communication

Frequency Seen

Trustworthiness

Compassion

Explained risks

Adaptability

Clinic

Santa Barbara Fertility Center

Santa Barbara

Operations

Scheduling

Billing Department

Nursing Staff

Clinic Atmosphere

Educational Resources

Review of

Rene Allen Santa Barbara Fertility Center

2013 - 2018, Unsuccessful

Age 27 - 32

1 Egg Freezing

Surrogacy

Uterine Fibroids

Latinx

Income $50K - $99K

Only Doc Seen

IVF With Other Docs

Strongly Recommends

Unsuccessful

Review of

Rene Allen Santa Barbara Fertility Center

Dr. Allen is incredible . He manages to always be accessible and answer ANY question we have . He is always thorough when explaining treatments and following procedures . He has always been attentive with us and has made us feel important . Never has he rushed us . He is very compassionate and is able to be honest without adding more to the already stressful and painful situation we have been experiencing . He always has a solution and is quick to act on anything to get the process moving along . He is also a great surgeon , my recovery was quick and not as painful as I imagined . Overall, Dr. Allen is just an amazing person , you can tell he loves what he does and treats everyone like family.

This clinic [Santa Barbara Fertility Center] is VERY organized , they are always updated with every step of your process and get things done flawlessly . The clinic is located in beautiful Santa Barbara and is very welcoming . It’s a very clean clinic with all the essentials. It has expanded and allows for in house procedures which makes the whole process a little more intimate . You never feel rushed .

How was your experience with Rene Allen at Santa Barbara Fertility Center?

What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Rene Allen at Santa Barbara Fertility Center?

Trust the process , you are in GREAT hands .

During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Rene Allen at Santa Barbara Fertility Center?

Since day one Dr. Allen turned a scary experience into something we can be hopeful about. He always called us by our name and knew exactly what we were there for , never did he really have to look at a chart , he just knew us . He was very good at giving us real life results and possibilities in a way that kept us calm and hopeful for the future . He is an amazing doctor .

Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Santa Barbara Fertility Center.

The nursing staff has remained the same since I started with Dr. Allen . It is always a warm welcoming when walking into the office . I have communicated with different nurses and all of them are up to date with our status and know exactly how to direct us when needed. I have never had to explain myself twice to anyone as they are all always on the same page and know exactly how to answer any question . They have been there through the good and the bad and showed compassion as well as excitement when needed .

Describe your experience with Santa Barbara Fertility Center.

This clinic is VERY organized , they are always updated with every step of your process and get things done flawlessly . The clinic is located in beautiful Santa Barbara and is very welcoming . It’s a very clean clinic with all the essentials. It has expanded and allows for in house procedures which makes the whole process a little more intimate . You never feel rushed .

Describe the costs associated with your care under Rene Allen at Santa Barbara Fertility Center.

12k egg retrieval 3-4K transfer Other Additional costs

Describe Rene Allen's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Santa Barbara Fertility Center.

Dr. Allen discussed different outcomes and risks when transferring embryos . He was very thurough and was able to share his knowledge and opinion with us prior to our transfer .

Doctor

Rene Allen

Humanity

Communication

Frequency Seen

Trustworthiness

Compassion

Explained risks

Adaptability

Clinic

Santa Barbara Fertility Center

Santa Barbara

Operations

Scheduling

Billing Department

Nursing Staff

Clinic Atmosphere

Educational Resources

Review of

Rene Allen Santa Barbara Fertility Center

2013 - 2016, Successful

Age 31 - 34

3 IUI

European

Income $100K - $199K

Teacher

Only Doc Seen

Neutral

Successful

Review of

Rene Allen Santa Barbara Fertility Center

Dr Allen would explain things to me that I fully understood (for example, how a menstrual cycle works) and I also felt pressure to start treatments more aggressively than I wanted. In the end, we did two treatments the way I wanted (just Clomid w/o IUI) without success and then had success with what Dr Allen had recommended (Clomid w IUI). We did the latter treatment again several years later with immediate success (twins even). So I suppose he was right to start more aggressively because of statistics but emotionally I just wasn’t there.

It [Santa Barbara Fertility Center] is well organized, we waited very little, and I felt well respected. It’s conveniently located downtown Santa Barbara, offered off-street parking. It’s clean and doesn’t necessarily feel like a doctor’s office, comfortable.... Consultation $200+ IUI $1000? Trigger shots $50 for 2 (can’t get just one) Clomid $30?... In a nutshell (and what I remember) we did 2 cycles w Clomid without success, then 2 cycles w Clomid and IUI (plus trigger shot), the last resulting in a successful, singleton pregnancy. Years later we did just one cycle w Clomid and IUI (plus trigger shot), resulting in a successful, twin pregnancy.

How was your experience with Rene Allen at Santa Barbara Fertility Center?

Dr Allen strives for success, like most people. For that reason, I understand why his practice revolves around statistics. He knows what families need in order to achieve pregnancy. But I think he sometimes fails to understand that every family is different. Even if we struggle to get pregnant, we do not walk in the clinic door ready to donate our bodies to science for the sake of a successful pregnancy (even though it would definitely seem that way). I am glad I was able to have children, but I often wonder had I not used such aggressive methods to achieve pregnancy if I would have ended up with a twin pregnancy. In my specific case, too, we had no obvious explanation for our infertility, so we weren’t aggressively overcoming any one specific physical obstacle except that we weren’t getting pregnant.

What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Rene Allen at Santa Barbara Fertility Center?

Trust that he wants you to achieve pregnancy, and for that he is amazing. Just do your own homework, decide what will work best for you, and don’t be pressured by all the statistics. PS: You sign a waiver stating that you understand the treatments may result in pregnancy with multiple babies. This is VERY true and multiples are a doozy (for lack of a better/different word *wink*).

During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Rene Allen at Santa Barbara Fertility Center?

In the beginning I was not happy with how I was treated because it was a very sensitive time for me as a woman and I felt like I was being treated as a child. Dr Allen would explain things to me that I fully understood (for example, how a menstrual cycle works) and I also felt pressure to start treatments more aggressively than I wanted. In the end, we did two treatments the way I wanted (just Clomid w/o IUI) without success and then had success with what Dr Allen had recommended (Clomid w IUI). We did the latter treatment again several years later with immediate success (twins even). So I suppose he was right to start more aggressively because of statistics but emotionally I just wasn’t there.

Describe the protocols Rene Allen used in your cycles at Santa Barbara Fertility Center and their degree of success.

In a nutshell (and what I remember) we did 2 cycles w Clomid without success, then 2 cycles w Clomid and IUI (plus trigger shot), the last resulting in a successful, singleton pregnancy. Years later we did just one cycle w Clomid and IUI (plus trigger shot), resulting in a successful, twin pregnancy.

Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Santa Barbara Fertility Center.

I honestly don’t remember the staff very well. Didn’t make an impression either way, I guess.

Describe your experience with Santa Barbara Fertility Center.

It is well organized, we waited very little, and I felt well respected. It’s conveniently located downtown Santa Barbara, offered off-street parking. It’s clean and doesn’t necessarily feel like a doctor’s office, comfortable.

Describe the costs associated with your care under Rene Allen at Santa Barbara Fertility Center.

Consultation $200+ IUI $1000? Trigger shots $50 for 2 (can’t get just one) Clomid $30?

Doctor

Rene Allen

Humanity

Communication

Frequency Seen

Trustworthiness

Compassion

Explained risks

Adaptability

Clinic

Santa Barbara Fertility Center

Santa Barbara

Operations

Scheduling

Billing Department

Nursing Staff

Clinic Atmosphere

Educational Resources

Review of

Rene Allen Santa Barbara Fertility Center

2019, Unknown Success

Age 36

Unexplained

Income $100K - $199K

Consultant

2nd of 2 Docs

6 IVF With Other Docs

Strongly Recommends

Success w/ Doc Too early to know

Review of

Rene Allen Santa Barbara Fertility Center

Dr Allen has been an open book since the first visit, he has helped guide us through the transition from our first dr to his office, along with letting us determine the path that we could take to embryo transfer. He always takes time to make sure we understand everything he’s explaining during our visits and he’s even personally returned our calls over the weekend.... He works with the natural cycle of my wife rather than trying to manipulate her cycle.

They are extremely professional and always helpful. The depth of their staff is a huge plus. It is nice that they are able to draw blood samples there in the office and it seems the lab for transfers and retrieval are just next door....Natalie is very gentle and kind. She assists the Dr during ultrasound and even draws blood for tests. She is easy to communicate with and gives us results as soon as she gets them, even on weekends.

How was your experience with Rene Allen at Santa Barbara Fertility Center?

What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Rene Allen at Santa Barbara Fertility Center?

Don’t wait if you have doubts about your current Dr, Dr Allen is better than you could hope for.

During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Rene Allen at Santa Barbara Fertility Center?

We never felt pressured to do anything. Everything was easy going and simple, we got to choose how we wanted this process to go.

Describe the protocols Rene Allen used in your cycles at Santa Barbara Fertility Center and their degree of success.

He works with the natural cycle of my wife rather than trying to manipulate her cycle. The process only takes a month where it would take a minimum of 3 months with our first dr.

Describe your experience with your nurse at Santa Barbara Fertility Center. (Assigned nurse: Natalie )

Natalie is very gentle and kind. She assists the Dr during ultrasound and even draws blood for tests. She is easy to communicate with and gives us results as soon as she gets them, even on weekends.

Describe your experience with Santa Barbara Fertility Center.

Describe the costs associated with your care under Rene Allen at Santa Barbara Fertility Center.

$3,000

Describe Rene Allen's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Santa Barbara Fertility Center.

Dr Allen transfers one embryo per cycle, unless there is a history of multiple failed pregnancies.

Doctor

Rene Allen

Humanity

Communication

Frequency Seen

Trustworthiness

Compassion

Explained risks

Adaptability

Clinic

Santa Barbara Fertility Center

Santa Barbara

Operations

Scheduling

Nursing Staff

Clinic Atmosphere

Educational Resources

Review of

Rene Allen Santa Barbara Fertility Center

2016 - 2019, Unknown Success

Age 35 - 38

2 IUI

1 IVF

PCOS

Latinx

Income $50K - $99K

Only Doc Seen

Fertility Medications With Other Docs

Strongly Recommends

Success w/ Doc Too early to know

Review of

Rene Allen Santa Barbara Fertility Center

He [Dr. Rene Allen] makes you feel very comfortable and takes the time to answer all questions you may have. He also explains everything he is doing during procedures...He takes all the time needed to answer all questions. He is very nice and down to earth which makes being in the office very comfortable. Also gives you his cell number should anything come up. Also never pressures me to jump to the next step or do something i don’t want to. He discusses all possibilities and let’s me think about decisions at home and call him when i am ready to proceed.

[The nursing staff at Santa Barbara Fertility Center are] All very nice and comforting...Each cycle was $1,000 for iui. IVF was about $12,000. Mine was a bit more due to having to take extra injections and having to pay for the extra medications needed...Every time I’ve gone in they are on time and never keep me waiting. They seem to have a good system to keep the office flowing. My husband has also always had a good experience and feels comfortable with the staff. He normally hates needles but he stated they have always done a good job when they have had to draw his blood for tests.

How was your experience with Rene Allen at Santa Barbara Fertility Center?

He takes all the time needed to answer all questions. He is very nice and down to earth which makes being in the office very comfortable. Also gives you his cell number should anything come up. Also never pressures me to jump to the next step or do something i don’t want to. He discusses all possibilities and let’s me think about decisions at home and call him when i am ready to proceed.

During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Rene Allen at Santa Barbara Fertility Center?

He makes you feel very comfortable and takes the time to answer all questions you may have. He also explains everything he is doing during procedures.

Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Santa Barbara Fertility Center.

All very nice and comforting.

Describe your experience with Santa Barbara Fertility Center.

Every time I’ve gone in they are on time and never keep me waiting. They seem to have a good system to keep the office flowing. My husband has also always had a good experience and feels comfortable with the staff. He normally hates needles but he stated they have always done a good job when they have had to draw his blood for tests.

Describe the costs associated with your care under Rene Allen at Santa Barbara Fertility Center.

Each cycle was $1,000 for iui. IVF was about $12,000. Mine was a bit more due to having to take extra injections and having to pay for the extra medications needed.

Doctor

Rene Allen

Humanity

Communication

Frequency Seen

Trustworthiness

Compassion

Explained risks

Adaptability

Clinic

Santa Barbara Fertility Center

Santa Barbara

Operations

Scheduling

Billing Department

Nursing Staff

Clinic Atmosphere

Educational Resources

Review of

Rene Allen Santa Barbara Fertility Center

2013 - 2017, Successful

Age 28 - 32

5 IUI

PCOS

Income $100K - $199K

Only Doc Seen

Strongly Recommends

Successful

Review of

Rene Allen Santa Barbara Fertility Center

Dr. Allen was very polite and knowledgeable. He did a great job explaining what to expect for each treatment/procedure. I felt comfortable asking questions regarding any concerns I had. I felt supported after the loss of my first pregnancy. He was very patient and understanding of the whole process. I returned for another attempt and was able to get pregnant right away and gave birth to my first child.

How was your experience with Rene Allen at Santa Barbara Fertility Center?

During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Rene Allen at Santa Barbara Fertility Center?

Showed interest in personal life, had a sense of human, responded positively when asked any questions (both regarding treatment and personal questions).

Describe the protocols Rene Allen used in your cycles at Santa Barbara Fertility Center and their degree of success.

I seeker out fertility treatment not knowing that I had a condition. Dr. Allen was very patient and we went through my medical history. After a few tests, I was diagnosed with pcos. I was prescribed clomid at the lowest dosage and slowly we moved up.

Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Santa Barbara Fertility Center.

Very compassionate and personable. Always available for personal questions and supportive advice.

Describe the costs associated with your care under Rene Allen at Santa Barbara Fertility Center.

With our previous insurance (before my husband change jobs), fertility costs were covered. However, with our next attempt with our (hopefully soon to be) second child, my husband's new insurance covers 0% of fertility coverage. We've paid around $6,000-$7,000 so far.

What specific things went wrong at Santa Barbara Fertility Center?

Lost appointments

Doctor

Rene Allen

Humanity

Communication

Frequency Seen

Trustworthiness

Compassion

Explained risks

Adaptability

Clinic

Santa Barbara Fertility Center

Santa Barbara

Operations

Scheduling

Billing Department

Nursing Staff

Clinic Atmosphere

Educational Resources

Review of

Rene Allen Santa Barbara Fertility Center

2014 - 2019, Unsuccessful

Age 39 - 44

3 IUI

5 IVF

European

Income $100K - $199K

Sales Representative

Only Doc Seen

Strongly Recommends

Unsuccessful

Review of

Rene Allen Santa Barbara Fertility Center

Dr. Allen is a kind doctor with an excellent bedside manner. He is empathetic and always professional...My husband and I both think very highly of Dr. Allen...never made me feel uncomfortable, even during the most personal exams. I feel like he presents all information from a scientific and fact-based position, and does not try to embellish your chances...waits to give all bad news himself, so you can be waiting until the end of the day to hear a negative test result.

I think this [Santa Barbara Fertility Center] is an excellent clinic, and a real asset to the Santa Barbara area. Through problems and successes, you can count on Dr. Allen and his team to be warm and caring. As I mentioned, my main issue was not hearing the negative test results until the end of the day...has a very kind and caring team. We felt that they cared about us personally and it was always nice to see them...Dr. Allen is a kind doctor with an excellent bedside manner.

How was your experience with Rene Allen at Santa Barbara Fertility Center?

My husband and I both think very highly of Dr. Allen. He has a wonderful bedside manner, and never made me feel uncomfortable, even during the most personal exams. I feel like he presents all information from a scientific and fact-based position, and does not try to embellish your chances.

What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Rene Allen at Santa Barbara Fertility Center?

Dr. Allen waits to give all bad news himself, so you can be waiting until the end of the day to hear a negative test result.

During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Rene Allen at Santa Barbara Fertility Center?

Dr. Allen is a kind doctor with an excellent bedside manner. He is empathetic and always professional.

Describe your experience with your nurse at Santa Barbara Fertility Center. (Assigned nurse: Joanna)

Dr. Allen has a very kind and caring team. We felt that they cared about us personally and it was always nice to see them.

Describe your experience with Santa Barbara Fertility Center.

I think this is an excellent clinic, and a real asset to the Santa Barbara area. Through problems and successes, you can count on Dr. Allen and his team to be warm and caring. As I mentioned, my main issue was not hearing the negative test results until the end of the day.

Doctor

Rene Allen

Humanity

Communication

Frequency Seen

Trustworthiness

Compassion

Explained risks

Adaptability

Clinic

Santa Barbara Fertility Center

Santa Barbara

Operations

Scheduling

Billing Department

Nursing Staff

Clinic Atmosphere

Educational Resources

Review of

Rene Allen Santa Barbara Fertility Center

2019 - 2020, Unsuccessful

Age 30 - 31

2 IUI

1 IVF

Endometriosis

European

Income $50K - $99K

Nurse or HC Services

2nd of 2 Docs

1 Fertility Medications With Other Docs

Strongly Recommends

Unsuccessful

Review of

Rene Allen Santa Barbara Fertility Center

Dr. Allen and his staff remember not only my name but my husbands and go above and beyond to make the process as easy and gentle as possible...makes sure to answer EVERY single question you have and the follows up with, do you have any more questions?...genuinely cares about his patients and wants what’s best for them and is emotionally involved as well. He makes us feel like VIPs every visit.

[Staff at Santa Barbara Fertility Center] takes time to get to know you and your situation...getting most lab results same day and even within a couple of hours sometimes...prices are reasonable compared to others and you definitely get your money’s worth...You definitely feel apart of a team that wants to help and cares.

How was your experience with Rene Allen at Santa Barbara Fertility Center?

Dr. Allen is a very warm and compassionate human. He makes sure to answer EVERY single question you have and the follows up with, do you have any more questions? He genuinely cares about his patients and wants what’s best for them and is emotionally involved as well. He makes us feel like VIPs every visit. He is one of a kind.

What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Rene Allen at Santa Barbara Fertility Center?

Write down all of your questions because she’s willing to answer them all

During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Rene Allen at Santa Barbara Fertility Center?

Dr. Allen and his staff remember not only my name but my husbands and go above and beyond to make the process as easy and gentle as possible

Describe the protocols Rene Allen used in your cycles at Santa Barbara Fertility Center and their degree of success.

Dr. Allen used gonal f, menopur, progesterone and pregnyl

Describe your experience with your nurse at Santa Barbara Fertility Center.

Every single one of Dr. Allen’s staff takes time to get to know you and your situation. They remember your name and show compassion towards your situation and comfort you when needed

Describe your experience with Santa Barbara Fertility Center.

I wouldn’t say there are any weaknesses within this office. I appreciate getting all of my answers answered and getting most lab results same day and even within a couple of hours sometimes. You definitely feel apart of a team that wants to help and cares.

Describe the costs associated with your care under Rene Allen at Santa Barbara Fertility Center.

Dr. Allen’s prices are reasonable compared to others and you definitely get your money’s worth

Doctor

Rene Allen

Humanity

Communication

Frequency Seen

Trustworthiness

Compassion

Explained risks

Adaptability

Clinic

Santa Barbara Fertility Center

Santa Barbara

Operations

Scheduling

Billing Department

Nursing Staff

Clinic Atmosphere

Educational Resources

Review of

Rene Allen Santa Barbara Fertility Center

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Rene Allen

Santa Barbara Fertility Center

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Santa Barbara Fertility Center
Rated 9.6

19 patient reviews

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Rene Allen

Santa Barbara Fertility Center

Education

How Doctor Communicates

Santa Barbara Fertility CenterRated 9.6Strongly recommend: 90%Neutral: 6%Don't recommend: 4%9.6

19 patient reviews

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Santa Barbara Fertility Center
Rated 9.6