How Long Does Sperm Live

When it comes to fertility, sperm have a very important role. Unfortunately, their time span isn’t as long as you might think. Knowing how long sperm can live outside the body can influence your fertility and impact your sexual health decisions.

Sperm can live for up to five days when still inside the body. However, once sperm is ejaculated, it can only live for around 48 to 72 hours. This means that sperm must make the journey to the egg very quickly in order to fertilize it successfully. The environment outside of the body has a huge impact on the lifespan of sperm. Warmth, dryness, and direct sunlight are some of the environmental factors that can make sperm die more quickly.

The lifespan of sperm may also depend on your sexual activity. People with frequent intercourse may have shorter sperm lifespans due to the fact that sperm are constantly being produced and therefore need to compete for fertilization. Males with a history of a sexually transmitted infection may also have a shorter lifespan for their sperm due to the potential for damage to the sperm cells.

Knowing how long sperm can live is important for couples looking to conceive. This can help them to time intercourse to maximize the chances of fertilization occurring. For couples who have difficulty conceiving, seeing a fertility specialist can also help to determine the cause of the issue and find solutions to ensure the very best chances of conception.