In men, this raises the risk of erectile dysfunction, something that has been documented in studies of male police officers on bicycle patrol. AIM: 
 
 This study assesses the effects of bicycle setup and cyclists' attributes on GS and saddle pressures among female cyclists. A study by Yale researchers in 2006 found that female cyclists had less genital sensation compared with a control group of female runners. Forty-eight women took part in the study, each a consistent rider who cycled a minimum of 10 miles a week, but typically much more. RESULTS: 
 
 Handlebars positioned lower than the saddle correlated with increased perineum saddle pressures and decreased anterior vaginal and left labial genital sensation (P < 0.05, P < 0.02, P < 0.03, respectively).
– Previous studies have shown that riding a bicycle regularly can take take a toll on men's sexual health, and new research from Yale suggests the same holds true for women, reports the New York Times. The one stand-out finding: the lower the handlebars, the greater the trouble. If a woman has to lean forward more to reach low handlebars, that means she's putting more pressure in sensitive areas, which can lead to numbness. “We’re basically showing that there may be modifiable risk factors associated with female riders,” says a female Yale professor who co-wrote the study. “This better positions us to educate riders on safe riding practices that may actually be beneficial to reduction of pressure and lost sensation in the pelvic floor.” The study, which looked at about 50 women who rode at least 10 miles a week, is online here.