We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Health

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Is Sperm Transport?

Dan Harkins
By
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 12,560
Share

The path of spermatozoa, in humans and animals, is the short but complex story of life's beginnings. Beyond the basics of mating, creation and conception, scientists have studied closely the exact means of sperm transport to best facilitate artificial insemination, infertility treatment and contraception. This includes not only an understanding of what happens to sperm before it leaves the man but also after it enters the woman.

The common knowledge is that sperm transport begins when sperm cells are produced in the male testes, but that is the extent of many people's knowledge. In each of the testes, small coils called siminiferous tubules manufacture about 12,000,000,000 sperm cells every month in the average mature male. Before maturity, these cells are stored just above the tubules in the epididymis, where they stay until reaching maturity.

When the penis is stimulated, sperm transport moves from the epididymis, through the vas deferens tube to ejaculatory ducts. At this point, the cells are joined with seminal fluid made in the nearby seminal vesicles. This fluid contains food for the cells in the form of glucose, and protection from the vagina's acidic climate in the form of alkalines. Upon ejaculation, the seminal fluid is propelled through the prostate gland, which adds a thick milky prostatic fluid for increased speed in swimming through the urethra for propulsion into the vagina.

The sperm transport can last as many as 48 hours. That is how long sperm have to find and fertilize the egg inside the uterus before perishing. According to the University of Pennsylvania Medical School, only about 200 of the approximate 300,000,000 sperm cells in each ejaculation will make it to the egg. Just one — and occasionally a few more — will be allowed entrance for new life to begin.

Once deposited at the cervical entrance, the seminal fluid will begin to release the sperm cells from its grasp. This starts the process of capacitation, or the final maturation and hyperactivation. The cells mix with acidic cervical mucus, which weeds out the weak cells and allows the strong cells to enter the cervix.

When sperm transport arrives at the fallopian tubes, the uterus actually stores thousands of sperm cells in suspended fertility until the egg reaches the mid-section of the fallopian tubes, called the ampullary-isthmic junction. This is where most human fertilization takes place, as the sperm — coaxed by hormonal and thermal impulses — can arrive at the immature egg, or oocyte. Here, the eggs outer membrane, called the zona pellucida, allows entrance to one sperm and then locks out all others. A single-celled zygote is formed between egg and sperm, which in the coming nine months will divide multiple times to produce the offspring.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Dan Harkins
By Dan Harkins
Dan Harkins, a former military professional, brings his diverse life experiences to his writing. After earning his journalism degree, he spent more than two decades honing his craft as a writer and editor for various publications. Dan’s debut novel showcases his storytelling skills and unique perspective by drawing readers into the story’s captivating narrative.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Dan Harkins
Dan Harkins
Dan Harkins, a former military professional, brings his diverse life experiences to his writing. After earning his...
Learn more
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-is-sperm-transport.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.