Sperm's Lifespan

worried2

I know in the body its like 5-7 days, but what is it outside the body? Once they hit the air? Also, is it scientifically possible (ie are sperm strong enough) to swim from the vagina to the egg? Or do they actually have to be ejaculated into the female uterus?

Lex Luthor

worried2 wrote:

I know in the body its like 5-7 days, but what is it outside the body? Once they hit the air? Also, is it scientifically possible (ie are sperm strong enough) to swim from the vagina to the egg? Or do they actually have to be ejaculated into the female uterus?

as far as I know it's something like 24hrs out of the body. if you're worried about an unplanned pregnancy, go see the doc and they might suggest the morning after pill.
Not sure if they're that good a swimmer....some women get pregnant if you just look at them so everybodies different.

newgrange

The sperm are ejaculated into the vagina, not the uterus. Once in the vagina, they swim through the uterus, and up the fallopian tube to get to where they need to be for fertilisation of the egg which starts to move down the fallopian tube following ovulation. Ovulation generally happens about 14 days from the first day of the last period, though women vary.

In general, once they're inside, I believe the usual lifespan is between 48-72 hours, though it's not an exact science and depends on very many factors.

In the air, they don't last long - a few hours at most I think.

wheresthebeef

yeah they are released into the vagina. a womans orgasm is so pronlonged because the walls of the vagina rythmically contract and help the sperm along until they reach the safe haven of the cervix.
the vagina is a bad place for sperm to be caught as they are killed by the acidic secretions of the vaginal wall.
fertilisation usually occurs somewhere between 12 and 24 hours after sex. so i presume the sperm are still viable at that point.

Lex Luthor

wheresthebeef wrote:

yeah they are released into the vagina. a womans orgasm is so pronlonged because the walls of the vagina rythmically contract and help the sperm along until they reach the safe haven of the cervix.
.

There was no mention of any orgasm in the original post....