Sperm dying after 24 hours

A basic high school understanding will tell you that a sperm and an egg will join to make a baby. You might not know the specific details around the lifespan of the sperm inside the vagina or the viability of egg after ovulation. If you are struggling with infertility, it is a good idea to learn a little more about the basics of sperm and egg. A healthy sperm can live from a couple of hours to as long as five days after intercourse.

We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. The length of time they stay alive has a lot to do with environmental factors and how fast they dry up. If you ovulate shortly after you finish your period, the sperm may still be alive and can fertilize the egg. Learn more: Can you get pregnant if you have sex on your period? Keep reading to learn more about the lifespan of sperm as well as sperm motility.

Some die within minutes, and some can live anywhere up to seven days, under perfect conditions. But most live about two or three days inside the female reproductive system, according to USC Fertility. You need just one sperm to make it to the right place — the correct fallopian tube — at the correct time — after ovulation — to create a new life. This makes it seem like pregnancy could occur very easily.

A lot of numbers are thrown out there about the lifespan of sperm but here's the scoop: sperm can live as little as a couple of hours or as long as five days after sex. Once inside the vagina, the lifespan of the sperm depends on the woman's vagina, uterus, and fallopian tubes. Without fertile cervical fluid, sperm won't survive longer than a few hours inside the vagina or uterus if they make it that far. Many sperm die off in the very acidic vaginal canal within the first 12 hours.