My old bike is a men's frame with 40 cm men's bars. My new bike is a women's frame with 40 cm women's bars. While both bars are the same width across, there are very noticable differences -- the circumfrence of the women's bars is thinner and the drops are much shallower. I have a much easier time riding in the drops on my new bike and have a much easier time reaching the brake levers and shifters (and yes -- I have spacers in the levers on both bikes).

Susie