Sperm are male reproductive cells whose function is to fertilize an egg. Their production in the male body begins at puberty and lasts throughout life. From the moment the sperm are born in the male testes until they become fully viable, approximately 60-70 days pass. After sexual intercourse, sperm leave the “parent” body.
How much activity sperm have outside their natural environment depends on the conditions in which they find themselves, as well as on the health status of the man and woman.
How long do sperm live inside a woman's body?
In a woman’s vagina, sperm live for an average of 2 hours due to the acidic environment, which prevents the proliferation of pathogenic microorganisms.
For those planning a pregnancy, it is important to know that the more active sperm move in a straight line and try to overcome the acidic environment of the vagina, the more likely pregnancy will occur. It is recommended to have sexual intercourse every 2 days. You should also know that with excessively frequent intimacy, the number of sperm in the seminal fluid decreases, as a result of which the likelihood of conception decreases.
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How many days do spermatozoa enter the uterus remain active? Typically this time is from 6 to 7 days. During this period, a woman can become pregnant. The most favorable time for sperm to enter the uterus is the stage of ovulation. But even at this time, only the most active and tenacious sperm will be able to overcome all the obstacles on their way in the female body.
The more active sperm moves in a straight line, the more likely pregnancy is to occur.
The lifespan of an egg is on average 24 hours. Sperm can reach the fallopian tube in about 35-40 minutes. But if a man has health problems or does not pay enough attention to physical activity, the movement of sperm may be too slow. Sperm movement may also decrease in cold weather or when the body is hypothermic.
For your information. In the male body, mature sperm live up to 25-30 days. In the seminal fluid itself, their activity continues for about a day. After 24 hours, they die off and make way for new ones.
When is a spermogram with MAP test prescribed?
The interpretation of a spermogram with a MAP test looks like a positive result, that is, more than 50% of the sperm are covered with antibodies, or a negative result, less than 50%. It is practiced to simultaneously conduct a basic study of ejaculate and a MAP test. Using the MAP test, the immune (autoimmune) factor of infertility is determined. In other words, whether the cells are perceived as foreign bodies by one’s own body or the partner’s body, which leads to the production of antibodies that limit the movement of sperm. The MAP test is performed with seminal fluid or, if azoospermia is diagnosed, with blood plasma.
Life of sperm in the external environment
It is known that a sperm that enters the external environment and interacts with open air dies within 2 hours. Many people believe that you can get pregnant from sperm that gets on the human body or any object. This opinion is erroneous, since sperm that is not in the ejaculate and does not have natural protection will begin to decompose in the acidic environment of the vagina. Even if the sperm miraculously overcomes this acidic environment, it will be unable to reach the egg due to its greatly reduced activity.
But if some of the sperm remains on the man’s penis, and after that unprotected sexual intercourse takes place, the surviving “tadpoles” may well penetrate the fallopian tubes and fertilize the egg. This point must be taken into account by those couples who are not planning to conceive.
It should also be noted that in a condom, sperm in the ejaculate are viable for about 30-40 minutes.
Forecasts
The prognosis after the IVF procedure in combination with ICSI depends on two factors. First, the chances of egg fertilization increase when active, viable sperm are obtained from the testicle or ejaculate. And secondly, the higher the quality of eggs received from a woman, the higher the percentage of their fertilization.
When performing ICSI, fertilization of eggs occurs in 60-70% of cases, which is significantly higher (30%) during the standard IVF procedure.
In addition, 90-95% of fertilized eggs develop into an embryo.
Factors influencing sperm activity
Air temperatures below 5 degrees can cause sperm to become completely immobile
- Air and body temperature. Air temperatures below 5 degrees can cause sperm to become completely immobile. In this case, conception is impossible. For men who want to maintain high sperm activity, hypothermia is completely unacceptable. It is recommended to wear insulated clothing and avoid prolonged contact with snow or ice. Summer periods can also negatively affect sperm motility. An air temperature exceeding 37 degrees is considered dangerous.
- Physical activity. It has been proven that physical exercise has a positive effect on increasing the amount of seminal fluid.
- Health status. The presence of inflammatory processes in a man’s body and the use of medications negatively affect sperm activity.
- Lifestyle. Sperm activity may depend on how healthy a man’s lifestyle is. Smoking and drinking alcohol negatively affect both sperm activity and sperm count.
- Stress. A man needs to pay attention to his mental state. Stress blocks the cells responsible for regulating testosterone levels in the blood. In addition, due to excessive psychological stress, sperm production may be inhibited.
- The state of the vaginal environment in a woman. The most favorable environment for sperm is an alkaline environment.
Red blood cells
normospermia is diagnosed , they should not be present in the semen.
The spermogram is bad if your sperm contains red blood cells. Hemospermia during a spermogram is often observed in cases of injury, tumor or inflammation of the prostate gland. Scarlet blood in semen (false hemospermia) indicates injury or disease to the urethra.
With hemospermia, the sperm is brown or dark red in color. When ejaculation is accompanied by the release of sperm of such shades, this is a sign of serious diseases of the reproductive system. The cause may be inflammation of the bladder, seminal vesicles or prostate.
In older men, hemospermia can be a symptom of prostate cancer. Recent studies have proven a link between hemospermia and prostate cancer: 14% of patients with hemospermia had cancer.
Hemospermia requires an individual approach to treatment. In this case, the doctor takes into account the patient’s age, the duration of the symptoms of hemospermia and the frequency of their occurrence.
Sperm viability and sex of the unborn child
Sometimes future parents wonder whether it is possible to plan the sex of the child. According to scientists, there are no exact methods for planning the sex of a baby. However, it is worth paying attention to some details. It is known that the viability of sperm with different chromosomes is not the same. Y chromosomes ("boys") remain viable for 24 hours, while chromosomes - "girls" (X chromosomes) live for about 73 hours. This means that in order to conceive a daughter, sexual intercourse should be carried out several days before ovulation. And to make a boy, sexual contact must take place during ovulation or immediately after it.
It is known that the lifespan of sperm is influenced by many circumstances. With the right attitude towards your health, sperm activity can be significantly increased, regardless of how long they were previously active.
Successful conception depends on how long a man's sperm live
Author: Rebenok.online · Published 02/05/2017 · Updated 02/14/2019
The lifespan of sperm depends on the health of both the man and the woman.
An interesting fact is that tadpoles with a Y chromosome most often live only 1 day. They are the ones who make boys. And those with the X chromosome are distinguished by long-term viability of up to 4 days (sometimes they live up to 7 days) and they may just have enough time to wait to meet the egg. This is why it is more difficult to conceive a boy than a girl.
Ovulation
Two weeks before the start of menstruation, no matter how many days the menstrual cycle lasts, a woman should normally ovulate. In a cycle of 27 to 28 days, the egg leaves the follicle approximately halfway through the cycle. The duration of a woman’s menstrual cycle varies from person to person; in some cases it lasts up to 45 days or longer. Therefore, it is advisable to calculate the date of ovulation taking into account the expected start of a new menstruation, counting 14 days from this day.
Ovulation occurs in the form of a kind of small explosion: after the rupture of a follicle filled with follicular fluid, the egg that has matured in it is released into the abdominal cavity.
How long do sperm live?
The viability of sperm depends on the living conditions. In unfavorable conditions, even the most “hardy” sperm live from a few seconds to a couple of minutes. In the most favorable conditions, tadpoles can live for a whole week.
In the vagina
Sperm live in the vagina in a woman’s body from a few minutes to 2 hours. The fact is that the vagina is disinfected by an acidic pH. And in order to get through the dangerous area, the “tadpoles” must have significant speed and a significant number.
In the uterus
The lifespan of sperm in a woman’s body is quite long. If the “live” has passed through the vagina with an unfavorable acidic environment, then it is safe. In the uterus of the female body, sperm live from several days to a week. The best conditions for the longevity of little knights are the period of ovulation. A mature egg creates ideal conditions for the grooms.
On the male genitals
Sperm survive on the penis when removed from the vagina. After sexual intercourse, sperm can live on the penis for another half hour. Therefore, you should not practice interrupted intercourse after removing the condom and/or without washing the penis if pregnancy is not desired.
In the lubricant
If we are talking about pre-ejaculate or “Cooper's fluid”, the male lubricant that precedes the eruption of semen, then sperm survive in it. In the female vagina there is a disinfecting acidic environment , in which sperm do not live for a long time. But the lubricant helps the living creatures survive and overcome dangerous distances with minimal losses.
On air
In the open air, sperm live from half an hour to several hours. And although tadpoles live outside the body for some time, but, for reference, it is impossible to get pregnant from underwear stained with sperm, or from water in the bathroom that contains sperm, or from a toilet seat. But you can get a sexually transmitted disease.
Effect of a condom
In a condom, the lifespan of sperm is significantly reduced and is only 30–40 minutes . But if the condom contains spermicidal lubricant, then this is the rapid death of the seed.
In water
Whether sperm survive in water or not depends on the temperature. In the cold they will fall asleep, but they will live, but in the hot they will die. But don’t think that sexual intercourse in hot water will prevent pregnancy . The tadpoles are located in the penis, and not in the water itself.
Indicators to be assessed
Morphological indicators can be determined using a regular spermogram or the Kruger method. But unlike the usual one, the Kruger spermogram is performed according to strict criteria that evaluate the structure of the sperm as a whole, and a MAP test is performed to assess aggregation and agglutination.
The basic test determines the macroscopic and physico-chemical parameters of sperm. According to WHO standards, spermogram indicators have the following reference values:
- volume - from 2 to 6 ml. A smaller volume indicates a deficiency of sex hormones, a larger quantity is a reason to consult about prostatitis or other congestive phenomena;
- acidity - from 7.2 to 8.0 pH. A change in acidity levels indicates the presence of foci of inflammation. A low level may indicate blockage of the seminal ducts, and a high level is characteristic of prostatitis;
- sperm color is a very flexible parameter. Ideally it should have a milky gray color. Shades of yellow and green are found during inflammatory processes in the prostate, and pink and red are characteristic of various pathologies, including cancer. At the same time, the color of sperm is affected by taking certain medications;
- The most important parameter is the sperm liquefaction time. Typically, it ranges from 10 minutes to an hour. Thicker sperm prevents the normal passage of sperm, they seem to “get stuck.” A liquid environment is characteristic of prostatitis.
Table 1. Spermogram norms for sperm assessment
| Index | Norm |
| Time required for liquefaction | From 10 minutes to 1 hour |
| Ejaculate volume | From 2 to 6 ml |
| Acidity level | From 7.2 to 8 |
| Ejaculate color | Milky, yellow, white-gray |
| Number of detected spermatozoa | From 40 to 500 million |
| White blood cell level | Not higher than 1 million in 1 ml |
| Presence of red blood cells | Completely absent |
| Presence of mucus | absent |
Table 2. Spermogram norms for sperm assessment
| Index | Norm |
| Concentration in 1 ml of ejaculate | From 20 to 120 million in 1 ml |
| Actively mobile (category A) | Not lower than 25% |
| Progressively mobile (category B) A+B | Not lower than 50% |
| Weakly mobile (category C) | Not higher than 50% |
| Immobilized (category D) | Less than 6-10% |
| Agglutination (sperm aggregation) | absent |
| MAP test | Not higher than 50% |
In addition to the main, basic spermogram, the following types of tests are also carried out:
- study of sperm morphology according to strict Kruger criteria;
- performing a MAP test to determine immune or autoimmune factors of infertility.
Let's talk about each of them in more detail.
What can cause sperm death?
Sperm become non-viable under the following factors:
- Varicocele - varicose veins of the testicle and spermatic cord, significantly reduces the number of viable survivors.
Sexual infections and hormonal disorders also affect the life of sperm .
At temperatures above 38°C, sperm die, and at +4 and below, the “live ones” freeze, but do not die. They survive even deep freezing, which makes it possible to create a sperm bank. After defrosting, the sperm return to their working state.
So a man shouldn’t get too cold, but he shouldn’t cover up his intimate area too much either. It’s not for nothing that the penis and scrotum are not hidden inside the body, but brought out.
Where to be examined for infertility and take a spermogram in St. Petersburg
You can get tested for low sperm activity in St. Petersburg at the Diana specialized clinic. Here you can take a spermogram, get tested for sexually transmitted infections, and undergo an expert ultrasound using a new imported machine with Doppler.
Prices for treatment of male infertility are quite affordable. A pelvic ultrasound costs only 1,000 rubles, a consultation with a urologist based on the results of ultrasound and tests costs 500 rubles, and the initial appointment costs 1,000 rubles.
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How to find out how long sperm live?
The lifespan of tadpoles varies: from a few minutes to a week . To find out how long the sperm of a particular man live, you need to take a spermogram. While masturbating, a man donates sperm and it is checked for many indicators, the most important of which are the number, mobility and vitality of tailed tadpoles. It also happens that, in principle, tenacious sperm of a particular man do not survive in the mucus of a particular woman. This is called cervical factor infertility .
Is it possible to decipher the research results yourself?
A spermogram is a study that always begins with an examination in case of suspected infertility in a couple. It is taken to monitor the effectiveness of the prescribed therapy, as well as the results of treatment. And since this test has to be taken quite often, many men want to learn how to independently understand the norms of sperm analysis.
You can interpret the spermogram yourself online. Using a calculator for deciphering data obtained during a microscopic examination of a spermogram, a preliminary diagnosis can be made. Below we present some indicators of a normal spermogram that you can focus on when receiving examination results. However, we emphasize that the free interpretation of spermogram results using an online calculator is for informational purposes only and does not replace a consultation with an andrologist.
How can you increase the lifespan of sperm?
First of all, you need to give up bad habits, such as smoking, drugs, excessive consumption of strong drinks and beer, and sexual promiscuity. A healthy lifestyle , balanced nutrition and improved environmental conditions are the way to increase the life expectancy of sperm, as well as life in general.
But there are also less global rules. Men should not wear underwear that is too warm. The same applies to tight swimming trunks, trousers and jeans. It is best to sleep without any clothes at all.
selenium and vitamin C in sufficient quantities in food
When the family is waiting impatiently for the stork, the viability of the life-bearing germ cells becomes one of the decisive factors . If pregnancy is not desired, then it is important to stop the semen as far from the uterus as possible.
How long do sperm remain viable in different environments?
If a couple has firmly decided to have a child and plan everything related to this, one of the first questions that arise is how long do sperm live, what determines their survival and activity, and how to determine the ideal time for sexual contact for conception? It is especially important to have a good understanding of this topic, given that the egg is able to hospitably meet and unite with the long-awaited sperm in just one day.
So, let's get acquainted in detail with the life of sperm, learn about the difficult long path that they have to overcome for the cherished meeting with the egg, make sure that only a select few can do this, and find out how long sperm live.
What are they, sperm?↑
Spermatozoa, also known as gametes, sperm or live cells, are the smallest, but at the same time the most active and mobile cell in the male body. Their biological function is to fertilize the egg and conceive a new life.
In the structure of the sperm, everything is subject to its purpose:
- Head - it contains the nucleus, in which genetic information is concentrated, as well as enzymes that dissolve the shell of the egg to ensure the penetration of the living creature into it.
- The cervix is a kind of “depot” that provides the energy necessary for the rapid movement of the sperm.
- The tail (flagellum) rotates helically, like a tiny propeller, and allows sperm to move in a woman’s body no slower than 30 cm/hour, which, you see, is a truly fantastic speed for such a microscopic creature.
Sperm are produced in the testicles, and about one hundred to two hundred million sperm are synthesized daily, which mature within about three months and become full-fledged “men”. How long does it take for sperm to die if ejaculation does not occur and they are forced to remain in the man’s body? When ejaculation does not occur for more than a month, male reproductive cells lose activity, die and decompose into individual compounds that are absorbed into the testicular tissue.
A difficult and dangerous journey to the egg↑
After ejaculation, sperm enter the upper part of the vagina at a cosmic speed of 18 km/hour, and immediately find themselves in, to put it mildly, an unfavorable environment. The fact is that an acidic environment is maintained in a woman’s vagina, which is destructive both for pathogenic microorganisms (the protective function is based on this) and for innocent sperm. It is here, at the very beginning of the long journey, that most of the survivors die. Those who were strong enough and survived begin to climb towards the cervix, but even in this place there is an obstacle in the form of a mucus plug.
How long do sperm live?↑
You are unlikely to be able to find the answer to the question about the life expectancy of sperm. The viability of male gametes largely depends on many circumstances and, first of all, on the environment in which they find themselves. Their life expectancy varies greatly in individual cases, so let's take a closer look at this issue and find out how many days sperm live in different conditions.
- In the female body , in the acidic environment of the vagina, sperm live no more than a few hours; those that managed to reach the uterine cavity can, especially during the period of ovulation, live from five days to a whole week. On the days when ovulation occurs, the female body produces a sufficient amount of cervical mucus, which makes the environment more favorable for sperm and makes it easier for them to enter the fallopian tubes.
- In the environment - in the air, sperm can live for a maximum of two to three hours, after which they lose activity and die. However, during this time, sperm remain viable, which should be remembered by those who do not plan to have offspring in the near future. If the first sexual intercourse was performed using a condom, and then the couple decided to continue making love without protection, the man must first go to the bath and thoroughly rinse the penis with water. In the ejaculate collected in a condom, sperm live for a maximum of forty minutes, and in the presence of spermicidal lubricant they die instantly.
It has been proven that sperm carrying the Y chromosome are much less viable than those carrying the X chromosome. The sperm responsible for conceiving a boy live no longer than a day, while girl sperm remain active for three days. Therefore, even if sexual contact occurs at the height of ovulation, and all conditions are most favorable for sperm, there is no guarantee that the result will be a boy.
Negative factors affecting sperm lifespan↑
Yes, of course, there is a difference between the ability of sperm to survive in different conditions and how long sperm live in the air is very different from their viability inside a woman’s body. But there are a number of factors on which the quality of male reproductive cells depends in any case:
- Infectious and inflammatory diseases.
- Exacerbation of chronic inflammatory processes.
- Bad habits - frequent drinking of alcoholic beverages, smoking.
- The temperature of the environment in which sperm reside - the most favorable temperature for sperm is considered to be from 34 to 37°C. If a man plans to conceive a healthy child in the near future, he should avoid visiting saunas and baths, be careful not to overheat indoors or outdoors, and not wear tight synthetic underwear. You should always remember that temperatures exceeding 38°C are fatal for live creatures. True, sperm don’t like to freeze either: at temperatures below 4°C they freeze, become practically immobile and are unable to conceive.
Sperm color
What color is the sperm of a healthy man?
White-grayish is the color of sperm in most cases ( normospermia ).
Yellowish, milky or milky white - this color of sperm is also within the normal range ( normozoospermia ). The above shades do not indicate the presence of deviations. WHO recommends that neither the color of the semen nor its smell be taken into account.
But in some laboratories this characteristic is still recorded.
Thus, the pinkish color of sperm indicates an increased number of red blood cells in the ejaculate ( hemospermia ). With hemospermia, there may be a brownish tint to the sperm.
Transparent color of semen indicates azoospermia (semen does not contain sperm).
