A hypothetical scenario: About six months ago my best friend and I started taking a spin class twice a week in an effort to lose our post-baby pounds.

For the first few weeks, I had so much energy that sex with my husband was better than ever. But lately I feel less and less sensation around my genital area during sex.

Question: Can the bike seat I sit on during spin class be the cause?

Answer: It’s certainly possible. Just as in men, women who cycle even only one hour a week can experience diminished genital sensation over time, according to a recent study in The Journal of Sexual Medicine.

That’s because a bike seat can compress the nerves and arteries that are crucial to genital blood flow and sexual feeling.

To prevent the problem from getting worse, limit your spin classes to fewer than one per week, or switch to a new activity that doesn’t place any constriction on your genital area.

But if you really enjoy the classes, invest in a bicycle saddle seat pad, which features a cutout or dent in the middle so the genital area isn’t compressed.

Since you haven’t been taking spin classes for that long or that often, it’s unlikely that permanent damage has been done and genital sensation should return within weeks. If it does not, talk to your doctor. [sources: Elizabeth Gunther Steward, M.D., FACOG, First]