For many women—especially as we enter different phases of our lives like trying to get pregnant, trying not to get pregnant, or going through menopause—we are doing a whole lot of learning about our own bodies. By the time women are in their late 40s, we are veritable walking tomes of information about female hormones and our reproductive system.
But there’s this whole other half of the population walking around with their own reproductive system that, often, we don’t know a whole lot about. And whether you’re trying to get pregnant, trying to definitely not get pregnant, or you’re not thinking about that at all, we think it’s important to learn a little something about the male reproductive system– if for nothing else, because it’s interesting.
So today, we’re shining a spotlight on sperm.
Here’s everything you ever wanted to know—and didn’t know you wanted to know—about sperm.
Did you know…?
1. Sperm and semen aren’t the same thing
Sometimes people use the words “sperm” and “semen” interchangeably, but they’re not the same thing. Sperm are the male reproductive cells (gametes) that carry genetic material, and semen is the fluid that carries and protects sperm.1
2. Working 9 to 5
Sperm are constantly being made. Male bodies continuously produce sperm cells, creating about 1,500 sperm per second.2
3. They are survivors
Sperm can survive for up to five days inside the female reproductive tract. This is important to keep in mind if you’re trying to time sex around ovulation, either to get pregnant, or avoid pregnancy.3
4. Sperm look like tadpoles
Yes, we probably already knew that one, but you may not know why. Sperm cells are some of the most specialized cells, stripped down to be the most efficient at delivering DNA to an egg. Their structure includes a strong tail (flagellum) for propulsion, powered by specialized mitochondria in the midpiece.4
5. Sperm were recognized back in the 1600s
While people have known sperm existed, sperm were first recognized in 1677 by a Dutch microscope maker.5
6. Not all sperm are created equal
Only about half of a male’s sperm swim in a straight line—some swim around in circles or just get carried away in the flow of semen. And 90 percent of sperm in ejaculate are deformed. As in, two heads, two tales, coiled tails. You name it.5
7. Sperm health matters in conception
Getting pregnant is a 50/50 job. Both Mom and Dad can help their chances of having a healthy pregnancy and baby by making lifestyle and dietary changes—even before conception.
8. Sperm can become stronger
Research shows that males can increase their sperm strength by maintaining a healthy weight, getting regular exercise, avoiding smoking, drinking, and excessive heat, plus certain vitamins like C,E, and minerals like zinc and copper.6
Supplements like Preggo Sperm Health are a good way to get these vitamins and minerals, plus a unique “sperm positive blend” including Alpha Lipoic Acid, Longjack Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma longifolia) Root Extract, and N-Acetyl Cysteine.
9. Quantity, not Quality
We mentioned that not all sperm are winners. But there are a lot of them, ensuring that at least one guy is good enough to get the job done. In fact, each time a male ejaculates, it contains about 200 million sperm. And it just takes one of those to fertilize an egg.7
10. Six miles of sperm
We’re not sure who first did this fun math, but if a male could line up the sperm in one ejaculate, he’d have a line six miles long.5
11. Sperm wear hats
Each sperm has an oval-shaped structure–sort of where its little hat would be– called the acrosome. This contains strong chemicals that are released once the sperm attaches to the egg, that serve to melt the egg’s outer surface. It drills a tiny, tiny little hole there so the sperm can burrow its way in.7
12. They like to keep it cool
Sperm cells are made in the testicles, which are about seven degrees Fahrenheit cooler than a male’s overall body temperature. That’s why some doctors advise not frequenting saunas, hot tubs, or hot yoga classes if you’re hoping to conceive.6,7
13. Some people are allergic to semen
“Seminal plasma hypersensitivity" (SPH) is when somebody has an allergic reaction—either localized or a more severe systemic response– to the proteins in semen.8
14. Sperm have security details
Sperm cells start out looking like any other cell in the body—but by the time they’re ready to leave the testicles, they have half as much DNA as other cells in the body. This makes them look suspiciously like foreign invaders to the body’s immune system. So that the the immune system doesn’t attack the sperm, the testicles employ specialized cells to surround them, like their own little security detail.7
15. Dead sperm can make babies too
Well–in in-vitro settings, anyway. Normally, to fertilize an egg, sperm need to be able to swim. But in IVF, technicians use tiny, robotically controlled glass straws to insert a sperm into an egg. In fact, they sometimes beat the little sperm until it stops moving to make the process easier—but the DNA inside the sperm still makes it into the egg, and that’s what matters for fertilization.7
