Santa Barbara Fertility Center, United States

This review is long, though I tried to keep it brief, because they are truly wonderful. If I had to describe the doctors and staff in one word, it would be kind. This clinic is a breath of fresh air. From the start, they were honest about insurance coverage, and billing called before our visit to warn us that nearly everything would be out of pocket. We expected this, but appreciated the advance notice. They remembered us at every visit, and everyone was warm and friendly on every call. After poor experiences with rude receptionists and poor communication at other OB-GYN offices, I was amazed by how efficiently this clinic runs. Once, I called in a panic because I suspected a cyst. I expected to be dismissed, but they scheduled an exam the next day. The reception staff are always friendly and considerate. The clinic runs like a well-oiled machine. It has modern equipment and decor, plus coffee and water in the lobby. It was the first clinic we visited with a wall-mounted screen showing the ultrasound, so patients can see what the doctor is examining. No matter how busy he was, Dr. Allen always saw us personally, greeted us, asked how we felt, explained the situation, and repeatedly invited and answered questions. He told us to call if we thought of anything else. If treatment was progressing well, Dr. Allen transferred patients to his nurse practitioner. We missed him, but Kirsten was equally kind and attentive. Everyone at the clinic was warm and caring. They draw blood and run labs on site, so results are available the same day, except on holidays when the lab is closed. My previous clinic made me drive to another town for bloodwork and wait days for results, adding stress and time away from work. It is wonderful not to have that burden. Natalie and the other medical assistants are exceptionally kind, considerate, and caring. Choosing this clinic was a wise decision. They were also the first clinic to treat my partner as a true partner. Previous doctors said my husband did not need to participate and barely communicated with both of us. This clinic includes him, speaks to both of us, and does not treat everything as solely my responsibility. Allowing him to stay with me greatly reduced my stress because we could listen and ask questions together. We are very grateful. Whatever the outcome, we felt well cared for and reassured that there was a plan for every possibility. Update: We completed 3 IUIs and canceled the 4th on Dr. Allen's advice because I had only one follicle. We conceived naturally that cycle. We fully believe this would not have happened without the clinic's medication and care. Update: As of June 2021, our baby has been born healthy and happy. Our miracle baby truly would not be here without the care we received. We will always be grateful.

Dr. Allen and his team are amazing. Thanks to him, we now have a baby boy and a baby girl. I highly recommend Dr. Allen ❤️

Dr. Allen is amazing—very personable, available, and professional! We are extremely grateful. We now have identical twin girls and a baby boy.

The staff are very kind and the doctor is knowledgeable. We became pregnant after an intrauterine insemination (IUI) and now have a healthy baby girl. I highly recommend this place and am very grateful to Dr. Allen and his excellent team!

A waste of our time. It took 3 months to schedule an appointment, and once it was booked they had us complete a 24-page patient packet, only to fail to show up on the day of our consultation. We called the office several times but never received the Zoom link, even though my husband and I had both taken time off. This added more stress to our situation and left us completely disappointed. When we finally spoke with Dr. Allen, he said he has meetings every hour. I told him that if he cannot make time for new patients, he should not accept them.

We received excellent personalized care from professional, knowledgeable, and compassionate staff. The process was simple, the price reasonable, and the outcome perfect.

As I write this after getting up at 3 a.m. to feed my 2-month-old daughter, I am deeply grateful to Dr. Rene Allen and his team. I began IVF in June 2022 and became pregnant in June 2024 after 1 egg retrieval and 5 transfers. The team is kind and knowledgeable. Natalie answered every panicked call and question, and the entire team grieved and celebrated with us at every step. I cannot thank them enough. Highly recommend.