The perineal artery can be affected by surgery involving the sexual organs. It is closely involved in re-creation of a damaged vagina (or creation of a new one) by a procedure called a perineal artery axial flap.
Cyclists of both genders have reported perineal numbness after long races, and according to an article on the site eMedicine, "Bicycle Seat Neuropathy," 13 percent of male cyclists in a race reported transient impotence afterward. Both conditions are attributed to prolonged pressure on the perineal artery/nerve as the cyclist rests full weight on the seat. This has led to new designs in bicycle saddles that, like the McClellan horse saddle of the Civil War era, have a void in the middle to shift weight to the rider's pelvic bones.
The perineal artery should not be confused through misspelling with the peroneal artery, which is found in the leg.