How long can a sperm live?

Spermatozoa are the main element of sperm, they are male reproductive cells that are produced in the male body. One sperm is a single cell, which has a rather complex and unusual structure. It is based on the head, in which almost all the space is occupied by the nucleus, which is the main component of any cell. It is in the nucleus that all the genetic information is located, which is subsequently passed on to other generations.

It has 23 pairs of chromosomes, and unlike the female body, the sex chromosomes of two types X and Y. Not only the hereditary apparatus and the health of the child, but also the viability of the sperm itself, depend on the state of the nucleus. If any defects appear in it, then most often the cell lives less than usual. In the middle part is the main energy element of any cell - mitochondria. It promotes the production of energy, due to which the motor function of cells is carried out. It provides movement of the next component of the cell - the tail.

The movement occurs due to the active pulsating movements of the flagellum. The sperm is covered with a special plasma membrane. One of the important elements of the cell is its apical section, located in the region of the head. It is also called an acrosome. It is the acrosome that contains proteolytic enzymes that provide penetration into the ovum cavity. How long sperm cells live will largely depend on the full-fledged structure of the acrosome.

Ensuring increased sperm life

It should be noted one very important feature of spermatozoa, on which their duration may depend, due to which the lifetime of individual cells increases. During the ejection, the sperm move at a short distance from each other, and die quickly enough, since the vaginal environment is aggressive for them. But due to the death of some spermatozoa, the energy produced by mitochondria is transferred to neighboring cells, which increases their lifetime. So he can live for several hours more. It is due to this factor that the sperm penetrates the egg.

Time of sperm formation

Every man, especially those who are planning a pregnancy with a partner, should remember that the process of sperm development is quite complex and lengthy. It consists of several regular stages that result in the formation of a full-fledged reproductive cell.

On average, it lasts 71 days. But at the same time, several stages of sperm development can occur simultaneously in the male body, which ensures their regular appearance in the sperm. That is why various factors are of great importance for the life time and quality of germ cells. How long a full-fledged sperm cell lives will depend on them.

How long do sperm live?

The lifetime of all sperm is a strictly individual parameter and depends on many different factors and conditions. This issue is especially relevant for couples planning a pregnancy. Indeed, in men, germ cells can be formed daily, and a germ cell in a woman will live only a few days during a certain period of the menstrual cycle.

Among the factors affecting the life of a sperm, the following can be distinguished:

• Contact with vaginal secretions.
• Contact with a condom or lubricant.
• Any impact of environmental factors.
• The state of health of the male body.

Vaginal life time

Since an alkaline environment is optimal for the life of spermatozoa, and in the vagina of a healthy woman it is acidic, it should be concluded that the vagina is an aggressive environment for sperm to live.

Therefore, directly on the surface of the vaginal mucosa, sperm cells live no more than two hours. In these cavities, the medium is already close to alkaline or alkaline, and therefore the sperm life in it can lengthen up to two days. Usually it is enough for the fertilization process.

Oddly enough, but the diseases of women, which are accompanied by a change in the acidity of the environment to a more alkaline one, contribute to lengthening the life of sperm and increasing the chances of fertilization. Too acidic environment can lead to instant death of germ cells.

Male health

The health of a man is of great importance for the lifetime of spermatozoa. This is due to the fact that during exposure to adverse environmental factors or the presence of diseases. So an increase in body temperature or overheating of the organs of the scrotum negatively affects the process of production of germ cells, as well as their quality with a possible subsequent life expectancy.When the temperature of their environment rises above 38 degrees, spermatozoa completely die, and even when taking a spermogram under such conditions, it is possible to reveal the absence of viable individuals, or they die within the first two hours.

A temperature of 37 degrees also reduces the lifespan of spermatozoa, but the number of living ones turns out to be higher. Sperm have a lifespan of up to two hours.

The optimal temperature for sperm production is 34-35 degrees, such cells live longer. Inflammatory processes in the organs of the scrotum or prostate gland significantly reduce their lifespan. Orchitis or prostatitis is of great importance. In the latter case, the quality of the sperm fluid may be impaired, the number of leukocytes in it increases, the environment changes, and bacteria may appear. In such diseases, the process can also be irreversible, especially in the case of inflammation of the testicle or complicated prostatitis, and the germ cells cannot live even when leaving the body.

Some sexually transmitted infections significantly reduce the life span of the sperm, even leading to complete non-viability.

Contact with latex or various lubricants

This is one of the major points in determining the sperm lifetime. So when in contact with a condom, their life expectancy is reduced, as well as mobility. Therefore, couples who are planning a pregnancy should avoid using various lubricants for the vagina. And men who take a spermogram need to collect the resulting ejaculate in a sterile container without prior masturbation or sexual intercourse.

Life expectancy in the environment

The environment also has a great influence on the lifetime of the sperm. Among them are ambient temperature, humidity, exposure to sunlight, as well as the environment they are exposed to. Many people are interested in the question of how many days sperm cells live in the environment.

The life span of a sperm in the environment ranges from 10 minutes to two hours. Such a significant difference depends primarily on the possible aggressive environment for it, as well as the speed of drying. When exposed to an acidic environment, they can die instantly, the same as when drying in sunlight. But in distilled water and sterile dishes, as well as at low temperatures, life increases to several hours. In addition, there are special environments in which the sperm maintains vital activity outside the body for a long time.

This should be especially known to those couples who do not plan pregnancy, especially how long they live on the genitals. The likelihood of conception occurring with the possible further ingress of environmental spermatozoa into the vaginal cavity exists, although its chances are very small.

Man's lifestyle

In addition to various diseases, factors such as:

• Use of tight underwear. This is especially true for men who sit for a long time. Sperm cells may produce less sperm, and their vitality may decrease.
• Visiting baths and saunas. So an increase in temperature, especially when the organs of the scrotum are heated, negatively affects spermatogenesis.
• The use of drugs. So some toxic agents can completely disrupt the process of spermatogenesis, as well as reduce the quality of the genetic apparatus necessary for further fertilization. How long sperm cells live will depend on the type of drugs and the duration of therapy.
• Many men are mistaken when they believe that the use of erection enhancers increases the longevity of sperm, and therefore, increases the chances of fertilization. They usually die the same way without using funds.

Prolonged abstinence or lack of ejaculation for a long period of time. In this case, the viability of spermatozoa gradually decreases. The sperm can completely lose the ability to fertilize after a long stay in the genital tract in a mature state.