We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Here’s our process.
Sperm cells cannot survive for long once they are exposed to the air outside of the body.
Precisely how long they can survive depends on the environment that they are released into and how quickly the fluid surrounding the sperm cells dries up.
Read on for the answers to some common questions about sperm and sperm survival.
After ejaculation, sperm can live inside the female body for around 5 days. The fluid in a woman’s reproductive tract has all of the nutrients that sperm need for their survival during that time.
Once inside the female reproductive tract, the sperm cells must swim through the cervix and into the uterus to reach the fallopian tubes and female egg. It is a very long journey for sperm cells to make and very few survive.
The withdrawal method, or when the male “pulls out” of the female before ejaculation, is notoriously unreliable.
Before ejaculation occurs, a small amount of semen, also known as “pre-cum,” leaves the penis.
There is some debate as to whether this fluid contains sperm cells. Until researchers are sure, it is best to assume that pregnancy is possible if this fluid comes into contact with a woman’s vagina.
According to Planned Parenthood, if the withdrawal method is performed correctly 100 percent of the time, it is about 96 percent effective.
However, most people are not able to perform it correctly every time, making the actual effectiveness somewhere around 78 percent. This means that each year, 22 out of 100 women using this method will get pregnant, or around 1 in 5.
Withdrawal is more effective when combined with other methods of contraception, such as male or female condoms or spermicide.
When using this method, it is also essential to make sure that ejaculation occurs away from the vaginal opening. It is still possible for pregnancy to happen if the sperm spills onto the vagina or vulva.
In the hot tub, sperm cells do not live for very long at all. The sperm cannot survive for longer than a few seconds after being exposed to the chemicals and hot water.
Pregnancy from someone ejaculating into a hot tub would be very rare and likely not even possible.
In a warm bath that was not too hot, sperm cells could likely survive for a few minutes. However, it is very unlikely that sperm would be able to find their way through the tub water and into the vagina of a female.
Pregnancy occurring in this manner would also be very difficult, if not impossible.
However, if a couple were having intercourse in the water, pregnancy would be just as likely because the sperm would enter directly into the female reproductive tract. The outside temperature and physical environment would not have any impact on sperm survival.
Share on PinterestFreezing sperm is an option for men with medical conditions that may impact fertility.
Scientists believe that sperm cells can survive indefinitely once they are frozen, as long as the temperature remains stable.
At such a low temperature (-196°C), the sperm cells are in a type of suspended animation, which means that all of their essential functions have completely stopped.
Men freeze sperm for a variety of reasons. Many do so because they are undergoing infertility treatment, or have cancer or another medical condition that would potentially impact their fertility.
Freezing sperm would allow a man to have children even if he lost his fertility due to cancer or cancer treatment.
Typically, millions of sperm cells are produced in the testicles every day. During this time, the cells that make up the sperm divide and change.
The sperm cells make their way into the epididymis where they finish developing, which can take several weeks.
The sperm eventually develops a head and tail, so that it cells start to resemble a tadpole. The head contains all of the DNA or genetic material, and the sperm uses the tail to help it move.
Many factors that can affect the sperm formation process. Some of the factors that can cause a decreased sperm count or poor sperm function include:
Health and lifestyle factors
- drug or alcohol use
- job or occupation
- tobacco use
- stress
- overheating the testicles
- weight
Environmental causes
- exposure to industrial chemicals
- heavy metals
- radiation or X-rays
Medical reasons
- infection of the testicles
- cancer of the testicles
- swelling of the veins that drain blood from the testicle
- hormone imbalances
- physical problems in the tubes that carry sperm through the reproductive system
- chromosomal or genetic disorders
- certain medications
- surgery involving the pelvis, abdomen, or reproductive organs
If a couple want to conceive and a man suspects that he has one or more of these risk factors, he may want to consider having a sperm count performed. A doctor may also recommend this procedure if pregnancy does not result after about 6 months.
If a man has any of these risk factors, he should try to change them at least 2-3 months before trying to conceive, since that is how long it takes for sperm to fully mature.
Share on PinterestMen may boost their fertility by taking vitamins before trying to conceive.
Reducing the above risk factors whenever possible helps to keep sperm cells healthy, especially before conception.
There are several things that a man can do to improve the health of his sperm:
- Maintain a healthy weight: Being overweight or obese can directly impact sperm production and the hormones needed to support the process.
- Quit smoking: Smoking cigarettes has been associated with a lower sperm count when compared with men who do not smoke.
- Cut back on alcohol use: Alcohol use can impact testosterone levels, which will, in turn, decrease sperm count
- Stop using drugs: Anabolic steroids, marijuana, and cocaine have all been linked with decreased sperm production.
- Take vitamins: Taking vitamins regularly can help to ensure that a man is getting all of the vital nutrients he needs. He should start taking vitamins at least 3 months before trying to conceive. Multivitamins for men are available for purchase online.
- Keep the testicles cool: Spending time in saunas or hot tubs, wearing tight underwear or pants, and placing a laptop computer directly on the lap may all increase the temperature of the scrotum and reduce sperm production.
Sperm live outside the body for different lengths of time, depending on the environment in which they were released.
Unless they are deposited into a female reproductive tract, sperm cells are easily damaged and can only survive a few seconds to a few minutes outside of the body.
How long sperm lives—inside the body or on other surfaces—is more than just a “fun fact.” It can actually impact your ability to conceive. Knowing that sperm live for 3–5 days in the female reproductive system, for example, means you could have sex several days before your partner ovulates and still result in a pregnancy.
Let’s explore how long sperm can live in different scenarios, and bust a few myths along the way.
How long does sperm last inside the female reproductive tract?
One widely believed myth is that sperm only survives for a very short time. Studies show that the average length of time that sperm live, once ejaculated or inserted into the female reproductive system, is around three days. This depends on where she is in her menstrual cycle, however—with just the right timing, stronger sperm could last up to five days.
A lot depends on the consistency of cervical mucus. During ovulation, changes in hormones alter the composition of cervical mucus, offering a protective effect that keeps sperm from drying out as quickly. Instead of its characteristic opaque texture, the mucus thins, providing just the right hosting environment to protect sperm without preventing movement.
The cervix also has another method for holding on to sperm around the time of ovulation: cervical “crypts,” small channels off the cervical canal. These crypts can actually serve as temporary storage spaces for sperm, which is then released over time, increasing the chances of fertilization.
What this means is that the “fertile window” is actually up to 5 days before a woman ovulates. It also means that you can have sex one day, and not fertilize the egg until days later—and in fact, this is the case with most pregnancies (as it’s rare to pinpoint the exact moment of ovulation). This is important to know whether you’re trying to conceive, or trying to avoid pregnancy.
How long does sperm live elsewhere?
Everyone knows the urban myth: two teenagers make out in a hot tub, and one ejaculates. The sperm swim through the water into the other’s vagina, and surprise! Pregnancy, even though they didn’t have sex.
Luckily, this isn’t reality. Sperm are highly unlikely to:
- swim that far. Sperm are not Olympic swimmers. The female reproductive system actually helps coax sperm along; without this assist, they’re not going far.
- survive in heat. Studies beginning around 1941 suggest temperatures higher than that of the human body affects sperm life and quality. While these studies measure scrotal temperature, we can conclude that heat itself has a negative effect on sperm’s viability.
So, in all likelihood, sperm ejaculated into a hot tub or bath would not live long enough to land inside a vagina—they’d survive only a few minutes.
Even in a room-temperature or body-temperature environment, sperm are unlikely to survive more than an hour or so outside the body. One of the most significant factors affecting sperm survival is humidity. Sperm are carried in semen, a fluid that nourishes and buffers them; once semen has evaporated, there’s nothing to protect sperm. Sperm that land on a dry surface would be lucky to last more than an hour.
Wait, then how does mail-in sperm testing work?
Mail-in sperm testing kits like Legacy’s use a transport media, an ingredient that’s clinically proven to protect sperm during overnight shipping. Additionally, our kits are insulated and extensively tested to ensure samples are not susceptible to sudden temperature changes in transit. These measures extend the lifespan of sperm outside the body to at least 48 hours, without significantly affecting the health of sperm.
Learn more about the science of at-home sperm testing.
How long does sperm last in the testicles?
Spermatogenesis, or the process of producing sperm, takes approximately 72 days, and it’s happening continuously in the testicles. Once they’re mature, sperm live in “storage” in the testicles—specifically, in the cauda epididymis—for as long as a few weeks. After that, they’re reabsorbed into the body.
But while in storage, sperm quality is decreasing fairly rapidly. Studies indicate that DNA fragmentation and mitochondrial damage increase after 5 days of abstinence, and motility decreases as well after about 7 days.
That’s why, although sperm counts increase a day or so after ejaculation, an extended period of abstinence isn’t beneficial for sperm. If you’re trying to conceive, it’s best to have sex every 1–2 days during your partner’s fertile window.
How long can sperm last if you freeze it?
Freezing your sperm protects its quality, whether you’re freezing in the short term or looking for long-term storage. (We’re not talking about sticking your sperm in your household freezer—medical cryopreservation is done with liquid nitrogen at a temperature of -196ºC.)
A 2019 study examined the long-term effect of freezing on human sperm and pregnancy outcomes, looking at over 119,000 donor sperm samples. The study found that:
- Cryostorage lasting up to 5 years had no effect on the survival rate of sperm.
- After 5 years, there was a small decrease in sperm’s survival rate (from 86% to 74% over 15 years). However, this had only a minor impact on birth rates when this sperm was actually used in insemination. Live birth rates for the group that stored for less than 5 years was 82%; for the group that stored for 6–15 years, the LBR was 80%.
The researchers concluded that “long-term cryostorage of semen in a human sperm bank does not affect clinical outcomes.” So, we can safely say that, once frozen, sperm can last indefinitely.
Choosing to preserve your sperm
If you’re thinking of freezing your sperm, using an industry-leading cryo storage facility can provide the best outcomes whenever you decide to become a parent. If you freeze with Legacy, your samples are stored at several different facilities to mitigate any location risks and monitored 24/7. This is one step you can trust to help keep your sperm safe and protect your chances of starting a family.