Dr. Sarah McAllister

Dr. Sarah McAllister is a reproductive endocrinologist and infertility specialist affiliated with BC Women's Hospital in Vancouver, British Columbia, where she is a clinical faculty member in the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the University of British Columbia (UBC). With 16 years of experience in assisted reproductive technology (ART), she is recognized as one of Canada's leading experts in complex IVF, recurrent implantation failure, and oncofertility.

Dr. McAllister's practice encompasses the full spectrum of reproductive medicine — from initial fertility investigation and ovulation induction through the most advanced IVF techniques including preimplantation genetic testing for chromosomal abnormalities (PGT-A) and monogenic disorders (PGT-M). She has a particular subspecialty interest in patients who have experienced recurrent IVF failures and recurrent pregnancy loss, cases that require meticulous investigation of immunological, thrombophilic, anatomical, and genetic factors.

Beyond clinical IVF, Dr. McAllister is a committed advocate for fertility preservation. She has developed a well-regarded oncofertility program that enables patients diagnosed with cancer to freeze eggs or embryos before undergoing gonadotoxic chemotherapy or pelvic radiation — giving them the option of future parenthood after cancer treatment. She works closely with oncologists across BC to ensure rapid referral and expedited IVF cycles for oncology patients when time is of the essence.

Dr. McAllister is deeply patient-centered in her approach, recognizing that infertility carries profound emotional weight. She invests significant time in counselling patients and couples through what is often a prolonged and emotionally taxing journey, and she works closely with reproductive counsellors and psychologists to support patients' mental wellbeing alongside their physical care.

Dr. McAllister completed her undergraduate studies at the University of British Columbia with a major in Biochemistry before earning her Medical Degree (MD) from UBC's Faculty of Medicine. She completed her Royal College residency in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at UBC, training across BC Women's Hospital and Vancouver General Hospital.

Following residency, Dr. McAllister undertook a three-year Fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (REI) at McGill University Health Centre in Montreal — one of the largest and most research-intensive REI programs in Canada — during which she gained advanced expertise in IVF laboratory science, complex controlled ovarian stimulation, and the emerging field of preimplantation genetic testing.

She is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (FRCSC) in Obstetrics and Gynaecology with subspecialty certification in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. She also holds Fellowship status with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (FACOG). Dr. McAllister maintains active membership in the Canadian Fertility and Andrology Society (CFAS) and the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE).

Dr. McAllister's primary clinical expertise encompasses in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), ovulation induction and intrauterine insemination (IUI), and fertility preservation through egg and embryo freezing. She is a recognized expert in optimizing controlled ovarian stimulation protocols, particularly for poor responders and patients with diminished ovarian reserve.

For patients with a history of recurrent IVF failure or recurrent pregnancy loss, Dr. McAllister conducts thorough diagnostic work-ups including endometrial receptivity testing (ERA), immune profiling, thrombophilia screening, and comprehensive genetic analysis. She has a high volume experience with preimplantation genetic testing (PGT-A and PGT-M), enabling chromosomally normal embryo selection and reduction of miscarriage risk.

In oncofertility, Dr. McAllister specializes in rapid-cycle ovarian stimulation for oocyte cryopreservation before cancer treatment, including random-start protocols that eliminate delays associated with menstrual cycle timing. She also offers ovarian tissue cryopreservation in collaboration with the UBC reproductive biology laboratory. Conditions she commonly treats include PCOS-related anovulation, endometriosis-associated infertility, tubal factor infertility, male factor infertility, premature ovarian insufficiency, and unexplained infertility.

Dr. McAllister has published over 60 peer-reviewed articles in reproductive medicine journals including Human Reproduction, Fertility and Sterility, the Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics, and the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Canada. Her research covers endometrial receptivity, PGT outcomes in poor prognosis patients, and oncofertility program implementation.

She leads a CIHR-funded research program examining the role of the endometrial microbiome in recurrent implantation failure, in collaboration with UBC's Michael Smith Laboratories. This interdisciplinary research brings genomic sequencing technology to the investigation of one of reproductive medicine's most puzzling clinical problems. She has also contributed to national data collection through the Canadian Assisted Reproductive Technologies Registry (CARTR).

Dr. McAllister is an invited speaker at Canadian Fertility and Andrology Society (CFAS) annual meetings, the ASRM Scientific Congress, and ESHRE. She serves on the CFAS Education Committee and is a peer reviewer for Fertility and Sterility and Human Reproduction. She is a committed mentor for OB/GYN residents and REI fellows at UBC, regularly delivering research methodology and clinical training workshops.

Dr. McAllister and the UBC Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at BC Women's Hospital serve international patients from the United States, Asia, the Middle East, and beyond who seek IVF treatment, PGT, or oncofertility preservation in Canada. Vancouver's international airport connectivity and the hospital's bilingual and multicultural clinical environment make it an accessible choice for patients from across the Pacific Rim.

Dr. McAllister offers initial telemedicine consultations for international patients, during which she reviews prior fertility investigations, hormone profiles, semen analyses, and any previous IVF records to assess the patient's clinical situation and outline a proposed treatment plan. Follow-up monitoring (ultrasound and blood work) during an IVF stimulation cycle can often be arranged locally through a partnering clinic in the patient's home city, with remote supervision by Dr. McAllister's team.

All consultations are conducted in English. Patients requiring translation assistance can arrange interpretation through BC Women's Hospital's patient services. Dr. McAllister's team provides detailed clinical summaries and treatment protocols to patients' home physicians upon completion of treatment.

Dr. McAllister has received the UBC Faculty of Medicine Excellence in Clinical Teaching Award and the Canadian Fertility and Andrology Society Young Investigator Award. She has been recognized by Fertility and Sterility as a Distinguished Peer Reviewer and serves on the Scientific Programme Committee of the CFAS Annual Meeting.

She is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (FRCSC) with subspecialty certification in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, and holds Fellow status with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (FACOG). Dr. McAllister has been listed in the Best Doctors in Canada directory and is a recognized leader in oncofertility and endometrial receptivity research in Canada.