Sperm cells carry with them the encoded DNA needed to turn a microscopic egg cell into a fully developed human being. As small as these swimmers may be, they pack a mighty punch in the department of preserving human life. Here are five facts about sperm cells that everyone should know.
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1. They can live in a woman’s body up to five days.
Once they have entered into a woman’s body sperm cells are often forgotten, but even though their presence isn’t felt these mighty warriors can live in a woman’s body up to five days. This means that it is quite possible for a woman to become pregnant if she begins to ovulate within five days after having intercourse.
2. Each sperm cell has its own built-in protection system.
Being able to survive within a foreign body means sperm cells have a serious guard around them to protect them from being fought off by the body’s immune system that otherwise would recognize the cells as invaders. During production, the testicles employ certain cells to surround the sperm cells with a layer of protection like a “picketed fence”. Who knew reproduction could be so complicated?!
3. Sperm and semen are not the same.
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Sperm and semen are often used synonymously, but contrary to this popular use they are not the same thing. Sperm, short for spermatozoon, are the cells that are contained within seminal fluid created by the prostate gland. Semen allows the sperm cells to swim and glide their way through the uterus to find the egg cell they seek. Remember, semen is the fluid and sperm are the cells within the fluid.
4. It takes only ONE sperm to fertilize an egg.
During a single ejaculation roughly between 40 million and 1.2 billion sperm cells are released but it only takes one of these mighty swimmers to fertilize an egg. The reason for the release of so many sperm cells has everything to do with evolutionary competition. Men are naturally programmed to procreate and in order for his genes to be passed on to new life, he must ensure his cells reach a fertile egg before his competitor. The more of his cells that can get close to the target, the better chance his competitor will be knocked out of competition. However, it only takes one.
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5. Sperm are always being created.
It takes two months for a sperm cell to go through the entire process of spermatogenesis but new sperm cells are always being created. Women are born with all of the eggs she will ever have throughout her life, but a man can produce sperm cells up until the day his life ends.
Glamazon Tyomi is a freelance writer, model and sex educator with a deeply rooted passion for spreading the message of sex positivity and encouraging the masses to embrace their sexuality. Her website, www.sexperttyomi.com, reaches internationally as a source for advice and information for the sexually active/curious. Follow her on Twitter at @glamazontyomi.
