Sperm life expectancy - what determines how much it is

The period of preservation of its properties by semen is useful information, especially when planning a pregnancy. How long sperm live depends on the health of the man, the chromosome carried by the sperm, and environmental conditions. 1 There are other factors that are important to be aware of as well.

What determines the lifespan of sperm cells

The time that sperm remain viable is influenced by several factors:

Indirectly, the viability of sperm also depends on the inflammatory processes in the female body - if the body temperature is elevated, the likelihood of conception decreases. 2

Sperm life in different environments

To answer how many hours a male gamete will live, you need to know what kind of environment we are talking about. The sex cells last the longest in the epididymis, the general life cycle is 3 months from the moment of formation, but already 3-4 weeks after maturation, mobility and viability decrease. In the external environment, this period is noticeably reduced.

Urethra

If after the last ejaculation there was no urination, the spermatozoa that got into the urethra can retain their properties for up to 2 hours. Therefore, with subsequent unprotected intercourse (for example, PPA), the likelihood of pregnancy is quite high. But if the man visits the restroom, the acid in the urine is more likely to kill the gametes.

Penis

Once in the open air, sperm cells quickly die. Therefore, the semen remaining on the penis after ejaculation retains its properties for a short time - from 30 minutes to an hour, in rare cases - two. However, this may be sufficient for conception, and if pregnancy is undesirable, it is recommended that you wash your penis thoroughly before having sex again.

Vagina

An acidic environment is maintained in a woman's vagina, so being there negatively affects the activity and life span of sperm. Normally, when entering a girl's body, the sex cells are protected by ejaculate and lubricant, which allows them to be stored for up to 2 hours, but high acidity reduces this period to 15 minutes.

The chances of survival for those spermatozoa that were able to enter the uterus increase markedly, and their lifespan increases to 2-8 days after intercourse. These terms may vary depending on the health status of the partner, as well as the phase of the cycle.

The most favorable conditions in a woman's body are created during ovulation. On the other hand, immediately after menstruation, the genital tract is "disinfected" by an increase in acidity.

Condom

The question of the safety of sperm in a condom is relevant in one case: if there is a suspicion that the partner may try to get pregnant by "cheating". In a normal latex product, sperm cells are retained for 30-60 minutes after sex; in the presence of spermicidal lubricant, they die almost immediately.

Air

The safety of germ cells in the air depends on where they got to. So, at room temperature and in the absence of bright light, especially if there was a lot of ejaculate, the maximum life time is 5 hours. The same period is given to gametes that have fallen on a woman's body, but the high temperature of the air or the rays of the sun will kill them in 15-20 minutes.

Semen trapped on underwear or other tissues may retain its properties until it dries.

Water

Sperm that gets into the water will not lead to the fertilization of the bathed woman. A comfortable temperature for the human body - on average, from 38 degrees - leads to the rapid death of gametes, a cold one deprives them of their ability to move. But it should be borne in mind that if ejaculate or lubricant enters the vagina from the penis in water, fertilization is still possible.

How long spermatozoa will "live" in a sterile plastic container depends on the temperature and additional manipulations for their safety. So, the ejaculate, collected independently in a container, "lives" for several hours, provided that it is maintained at 35-37 degrees Celsius. This time increases to 2 weeks when the semen is placed in a glucose solution and the temperature is maintained at 4 degrees Celsius.

Sperm banks guarantee the safety of biological material for several years thanks to deep and instant freezing with liquid nitrogen. But if there is a desire to contact such an organization, you should make sure of a sufficient number of mobile gametes, since not all of them will survive the subsequent defrosting.

At what temperature and other conditions do sperm die?

For spermatozoa, a fatal temperature above 38 degrees, when close to zero, they freeze. Acid, bright light negatively affects mobility and vitality outside the body of a man.3

In addition, there are factors that damage or kill them even before intercourse:

• radiation exposure;
• the use of harmful substances with food - pesticides, some preservatives;
• abuse of alcohol, drugs, cigarettes;
• a fat-free diet;
• hormonal imbalance;
• diseases - genitourinary or systemic, venereal, varicocele.

Occasionally, a woman's body produces antibodies that attack sperm and make conception impossible. More often, such a problem is associated with the material of one particular man. 4

Will the effect of sperm persist until ovulation?

The lifespan of sperm is often of concern to those who practice "calendar" protection. The release of the egg occurs once per cycle (28-32 days), the cell is viable for a day. However, calculating "safe" dates for unprotected sex is often ineffective for two reasons:

• for most women, the cycle is not constant, special tests are often wrong;
• spermatozoa retain the ability to fertilize for a long time.

Thus, if sex without contraceptives happened a week or less before ovulation, the likelihood of getting pregnant is high. A longer time interval or the entry of ejaculate into the uterus a few days after the release of the egg reduces the chances of conception, but does not completely exclude it. The sperm of a healthy man can remain active for a longer time.

But in case of problems with fertilization, on the contrary, it is recommended to determine (perhaps with the help of a doctor) the date of ovulation and have sex a few days before it, since the sperm will not reach the goal on the first day. It is important that the more distant in time the embryonic act takes place before the release of the egg, the higher the chances of conceiving a girl.

How to prolong the "life" of sperm

To prolong the "life" of spermatozoa, and, accordingly, increase the likelihood of fertilization, a man is recommended:

• wear loose underwear made from natural fabrics;
• avoid hypothermia or overheating of the genitals - refuse to visit the bathhouse, use thermal underwear for a long time in the cold;
• to reduce, or better to eliminate, the use of harmful substances - nicotine, alcohol;
• follow a balanced diet with enough protein, healthy fats;
• treat acute and chronic diseases, especially those affecting the pelvic organs;
• avoid stress;
• undergo examination, pass a spermogram to identify possible pathologies, before delivery, sexual abstinence is required for 3-5 days (no more and no less);
• drink a course of vitamins, preferably after consultation with a doctor, C, E, group B are especially important;
• take zinc and selenium medications;
• normalize weight, hormones;
• provide moderate physical activity;
• have sex regularly.

A woman can also increase the lifetime of sperm after entering her body by checking and, if necessary, normalizing the pH of the vagina.

When having sex, it is not recommended to use pharmaceutical lubricants. 5

Ways to shorten your activity time

Diseases, injuries and bad habits reduce sperm activity, but health cannot be harmed for the purpose of contraception. There are ways to reduce mobility and shorten sperm lifespan without long-term negative effects:

• high sexual activity - with frequent ejaculations, the number of cells capable of fertilization decreases;
• one-time heating of the scrotum to 39 degrees or slightly higher - for example, for sex in a hot tub or sauna.

In addition, the production of viable sperm is reduced or not at all with the use of anabolic drugs, but this is a controversial method that must be monitored by a doctor.

During sex, it is recommended to use lubricants or suppositories with a spermicidal effect. We must not forget that only condoms or oral contraceptives are reliable protection against unwanted pregnancy. Reducing sperm viability only reduces the risk of conception.

Literature used in compiling the material: