So after two years of increasing mileage on my entry-level Specialized Dolce, I've decided to get a fitting to increase efficiency. I don't have any real issues on the bike beyond some shoulder/back pain when I first start increasing mileage, but I've been told that a fit is always a good idea and my parents gave me Christmas money earmarked for it. The only improvement I know my bike really needs is the saddle -- it still has the stock saddle that came with the bike, and I mostly stay out of my drops because of the pressure it puts on my lady bits to be at that angle. That's what suffers the most on my long rides too.

I guess I have three specific questions:

1) I imagine a fit could help me figure out what saddle I should get, but I also imagine that the saddle could affect the rest of the fitting -- so should I try to measure myself and get it on my own first, or let the pro help me with that?

2) All the bike shops near me have only men doing the fits. I feel slightly awkward discussing how the saddle puts pressure on my lady parts with a man. Should I just suck it up and deal with it? Are they all used to addressing those issues?

3) Most of the shops around here had 'levels' of fit. I'll call around and get estimates of them all, but does anyone have advice on 'must have' aspects of the fit, and what's really not relevant for a cyclist who is basically only out here to have fun doing centuries?

I'd also be curious to hear about others' experiences getting bike fits!