I am thankful to the OP for posting her ideas. I am having a terrible time with the bits. I actually get swollen and stay swollen for several days after a longish ride. I have also had a couple of yeast infections and I have never in my life had any problems like that until I started riding. Any discussion and ideas are worth throwing out there. Not everybody has to take every suggestion.
Trek Madone - 5.5 -Brooks B-17
Trek 2.1 WSD - Brooks - B-17 - Trainer bike;
Gary Fisher - Tassajara (MTB) - Specialized Ariel