How Long Does Sperm Stay in a Woman's Body?

Conception begins when a sperm and egg fuse to create a new life. However, for this to occur, the timing must be right. 

Since sperm can only live in a woman's body for a short period, it is important that sexual intercourse be timed around ovulation

Sperm

• Sperm is a type of sex cell that is produced by a man. It is produced inside the testicles and is released by ejaculation. Once ejaculation has occurred during sexual intercourse, the sperm travels through the cervix and uterus of the female and into the fallopian tubes. Once the sperm is inside the fallopian tube, it will locate a newly released egg and will attempt to unite. If the sperm is successful in fertilizing the egg, the newly formed cell will travel down to the uterus to implant into the uterine wall and to begin the process of developing a new life.

Facts

• The average man ejaculates between 180 million and 400 million sperm per ejaculation. However, it only takes one sperm to fertilize an egg. Men who produce 20 million or fewer sperm per ejaculation are determined to have fertility problems.Sperm takes 10 weeks to mature, and during this time the sperm remain inside of the testicles. Once mature, the sperm will await ejaculation. Once ejaculated, it takes approximately five minutes to one hour to reach the the fallopian tubes.Once inside the fallopian tubes, the sperm can stay between two and five days before being expelled from the body.