Dr. Aruna Ashok MBBS, MS OG, DNB OG
- Clinical Director
Arun Kumar | 20 Jun 2023
Many of you might have been aware that all it takes is only one sperm and egg to have successful fertilization. But have you ever wondered how long can sperm live inside you to get pregnant? And the factors that are affecting its longevity? Well, this blog can help you understand all such occurrences.
The lifespan of the sperm can typically depend on various circumstances. The survival rate of the sperm inside the female vagina is approximately around five days. While the survival rate of the sperm in dry circumstances like bedding or garments is extremely minimal. Whereas, the survival rate of the sperm in the hot tub or warm water, except swimming pool which contains chemicals, is significantly higher when compared to dry circumstances. Yet, the possibility of entering inside the vagina is much minimal.
In contrast, the survival rate or longevity of the sperm can be decades when stored using cryopreservation techniques.
In general, the chances of having a successful fertilization are essentially dependent not only on the egg quality but also on the sperm motility. When we say motility, it simply means the sperm’s ability to move or swim towards the potential egg. While, the quality of the egg determines its ability to get fertilized, develop into a healthy embryo, and successfully implant in the uterine lining.
As we know all these processes happen in the reproductive tract of the woman but the sperm lifespan depends just beyond it.
Following are the survival rates of sperm at different phases inside the vagina.
Fertile phase, in other words ovulation period, indeed exhibits the highest possibility of achieving conception. The period may typically occur before fourteen days of the woman’s next menstrual cycle. However, the days may vary based on the length of her cycle.
For a better understanding, the ovulation period is when a matured egg gets released from the ovaries. This egg is scientifically more viable to get fertilized. If you are planning for the pregnancy, it is best suggested to have intercourse around this period. As the sperm can survive in the vagina for up to five days, ensuring to have the sperm inside you during the phase is essential for conception. Hence, it is suggested that having intercourse a few days before, during, and a day after ovulation can significantly enhance your chances of achieving a successful pregnancy.
During the ovulation period, other certain factors also contribute to the longevity of the sperm in the reproductive tract of the woman. They are cervical mucus, pH level in the vagina, uterine conditions and more. These help the sperm to swim easily towards the egg in the fallopian tubes.
Non-fertile phase is the days, apart from the ovulation period, when the chances of achieving conception are highly unlikely. During these days, the reproductive tract of the woman tends to transform its condition. This leads to the difficulty in supporting the longevity and motility of the sperm. When we say the condition is transformed, the changes in cervical mucus, acidic levels in vaginal pH and more are included. The non-fertile days are generally the days before and after the ovulation period, along with menstruation days.
Following are some of the key factors that indeed influence the lifespan of sperm in the vagina. They are:
Cervical mucus is the fluid that is developed in the reproductive tract of the woman. The mucus tends to change its consistency throughout the month. This indeed plays a crucial role in supporting the motility of the sperm and its longevity in the vagina. During ovulation, the consistency of the cervical mucus tends to become thin, and slippery like an egg white. This acts as a sperm friendly solution allowing sperm to swim towards the egg in the fallopian tubes. This enhances the possibility of achieving successful conception.
Apart from the ovulation period, the cervical mucus becomes thick in the remaining days. This makes the ejaculated sperm find it difficult to survive and hard to swim towards the egg. As a result, it provides the minimized possibility of achieving successful conception.
A healthy vagina generally has low pH levels, which means more acidic. The concentration of these acidic fluids present in the vagina gets diluted because of the cervical mucus during the ovulation period. Hence, the period is considered most appropriate for achieving successful conception. This is because the cervical mucus safeguards the sperm from acidic fluids and directly supports its motility and longevity.
Apart from the ovulatory period, the low vaginal pH levels can significantly have a negative impact on the ejaculated sperm and influence its survival in the vagina.
The normal range of the vaginal pH is between 3.5 and 4.0, which is more acidic. Whereas the optimal range (during ovulation) to enhance sperm motility and longevity is between 7.0 and 8.5. Furthermore, the range of the vaginal pH in the days leading up to and after ovulation may range below 6.0.
When it comes to the showstopper “sperm quality”, we are talking about its quantity, movement (motility), and shape (morphology). Recent studies found that a healthy sperm can survive in the woman’s vagina between 5 and 7 days. Whereas poor-quality sperm can struggle to survive and may die within hours or days after ejaculation.
Have you ever heard that a strong immune system in a woman can kill sperm that is ejaculated inside her? In some women, the immune system detects their partner’s sperm as a foreign substance. This triggers her immune response to kill or damage the sperm by producing anti-sperm antibodies.
Along with the antibodies, the leukocytes and phagocytes, which are the type of white blood cells present in the woman’s reproductive tract can kill or damage the sperm directly. This happens since the immune cells mistakenly detect sperm as a foreign substance. This leads to the contribution of negatively impacting the sperm’s motility and lifespan in the vagina. It also leads to the causes of unsuccessful fertilization. The occurrence is known as immunological infertility.
Uterine conditions, in general exhibit a negative impact on the lifespan and motility of the sperm. The conditions may include endometriosis, infections, congenital uterine abnormalities, adhesions (scarring), polyps, uterine fibroids, uterine lining thickening or thinness and more. In addition, hormonal imbalance can also have a negative impact on the lifespan and motility of the sperm. This happens as it causes changes in cervical mucus. All these factors may significantly impact the survival and motility of the sperm, leading to difficulty in successful fertilization.
An unhealthy lifestyle, lack of hydration, being obese, stress and more can all have a negative impact on the health of the sperm and its lifespan. Regular workouts and consuming a balanced diet can significantly help with enhancing sperm quality and fertilization chances.
Not only do the factors present in the woman’s reproductive tract affect the lifespan of the sperm, but certain external factors also exhibit a negative influence on its survival. The following are some of the external factors:
Many couples use contraceptives to prevent their pregnancy. The role of contraceptives differs from blocking the sperm from reaching the egg to killing it. Some contraceptives like birth control capsules are used to prevent ovulation. Whereas, the usage of chemical substances, which are known as spermicides are used to kill or damage the sperm. In addition, contraceptives like intrauterine devices (IUDs) are used to disrupt the sperm’s motility and prevent the fertilized egg from implantation.
Harmful substances present in the environment have a negative impact not only on human health but also on ecosystems and wildlife. Contaminants in the water, air, and soil can lead to several negative consequences, specifically reducing the quantity of sperm in men. The presence of heavy metals like lead and mercury in the soil, water, plants, or animals can affect sperm morphology in a wide range. In addition, pesticides that are used in plants and agricultural purposes can negatively affect the sperm’s motility.
1. Can HIV be passed to a baby in the womb?
The answer to the question is yes. It is possible to pass the disease to the unborn baby in the uterus. Furthermore, the disease can also be passed during labour and delivery, and even breastfeeding.
2. Is masturbation healthy?
The practice of masturbation is indeed good for your health. The ejaculation enhances the release of endorphin hormones in your body. The hormone plays a crucial role in preventing you from feeling pain and improving your mood. The practice can also be helpful in avoiding pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
3. Can I get conceived while breastfeeding?
The answer to the question is yes. It is indeed possible to get conceived even while you are breastfeeding.
4. Is it possible to have periods during pregnancy?
The answer to the question is no. It is not at all possible to have your period when you are pregnant. The process ceases menstruation since your body has stopped ovulating and shredding the endometrium or uterine lining. However, some women may confuse menstruation with implantation bleeding.
5. What is pre-cum?
Pre-cum is the fluid that is discharged in men during sexual arousal. The pre-cum usually gets discharged before ejaculating the sperm. Another name for pre-cum is pre-ejaculation.
