It takes a village: Why connection matters in sexual and reproductive healthcare 

For Sexual Health Week 2026: Let’s Connect, Dr Zara Haider, President of the College of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare, reflects on what connection looks like in the clinic, and why bringing together the right people can help make healthcare more accessible for everyone.

I’ve worked in healthcare for almost 30 years, and if there’s one thing my career has taught me, it’s that building connections matters. Of course, clinical knowledge and experience are important, but getting to know the person in front of you, listening properly and building trust with your patient are the real foundations of good care. 

We’re more connected than ever, with people and information just a few clicks away. But when it comes to our health, there’s still something very valuable about a conversation with someone who takes the time to listen and understand what matters to you. 

This is especially important in sexual health. We know asking for help can feel daunting. You might not know where to start, feel embarrassed about asking a question, or find the healthcare environment difficult to navigate.  Our role, as doctors, is to connect you with the right information and the right team to solve the problem.  

Sometimes, the care we need comes from more than one person 

Last year, a young woman with significant learning disabilities came to my clinic. She was experiencing heavy and debilitating bleeding every month, and she was very anxious in healthcare settings. 

She had recently become scared of needles, meaning the contraceptive injection was no longer the best option for her. I started her appointment in the usual way, by taking her blood pressure, but using the arm cuff was really uncomfortable for her.  The wrist cuff was a little better, but it soon became clear that finding the right equipment was only part of the answer.

With the patient still feeling uncomfortable and not in control, I realised I needed to call backup. The expertise of her learning disability nurse was a really important part of the puzzle. The pair had built a good relationship and the nurse understood how best to support her. 

So, we worked together. 

They practised taking her blood pressure at home, using a timer, allowing her to become familiar with the process. This meant that when she came into clinic, the experience was familiar and less overwhelming. 

Eventually, we were able to take her blood pressure and find a treatment that worked for her. We used a contraceptive patch and the bleeding stopped! 

It was lovely to see that change, particularly because getting to that point had taken time, patience and quite a lot of teamwork between the three of us! Her learning disability nurse knew her in a way that I didn’t, and that relationship helped us understand what she needed from her healthcare and how we could make the experience work for her. It was a really good reminder that sometimes the person who can make the biggest difference to someone’s care isn’t necessarily the person with the clinical answer. 

The things you won’t find online 

We have more information at our fingertips than ever. This can be really useful, but sexual and reproductive healthcare isn’t something you should have to work out with a search bar. Google and TikTok don’t know your circumstances. These platforms don’t know what you’re worried about, what you’ve tried before, what makes you feel comfortable or what might make an appointment difficult for you. 

But healthcare professionals can ask those questions. 

There is a whole team behind your care, even if you don’t always see them: the healthcare technician who holds your hand during a coil fitting, the GP who knows your medical history better than anyone, or the specialist who can offer another perspective. 

I regularly have colleagues come to me with questions, and I’m always happy to help.

None of us have every answer, and knowing when to ask someone else in is an important part of providing good care. 

And when my team don’t have the answers, specialist gynaecology services might. It isn’t because something has gone wrong; it’s about finding someone else who can offer the expertise needed. 

That’s what good healthcare should look like: people working together, with the individual at the centre. 

You don’t have to figure it out alone 

If I could leave young people with one message, it would be that you don’t have to figure it all out on your own! 

You don’t need to know exactly what you’re asking for, you don’t need to have the “right” words and you don’t need to be nervous about making the appointment your own.  

There are people around you whose job is to listen, answer your questions, explain your options and decide what comes next.   

For me, that’s what makes this year’s Sexual Health Week theme, Let’s Connect  so important. There is so much advice and information out there, but knowing what is right for you isn’t always straightforward.  

It takes a village to support patients, and sometimes the most important thing we can do is make sure that village feels open, welcoming and easy to find.