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How Long Does The Sperm Remain Active In Female Reproductive Tract?

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Posted on Tue, 22 Sep 2015
Question: If my guy ejaculates inside of me today, and I don't get pregnant this cycle can the sperm live long enough to get me pregnant next month? Or the following?

Ok, so there is no possible way? that sperm from last month canget me pregnant when i ovulate this month?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
No, sperm do not live that long.

Detailed Answer:

No, sperm lives only for a few days.
But do consider getting on a continuous form of birth control so that you don't have these worries - such as the Pill, Depo shot, or IUD.

The maximum amount of time sperm can live in the female reproductive tract is 5 days. So sperm from last month cannot survive in you long enough to get you pregnant when you ovulate this month. Unless you have sperm inside of you within 5 days of when you ovulate, there is no way you will get pregnant from sex prior to that.

Conception happens around the middle of the cycle, generally 12 - 16 days before the first day of the period. The length of time between the first day of the period and ovulation can vary, but in a 28 day cycle is around day 14.

If you are trying to conceive, best to have intercourse in that time frame, and for the man to not masturbate for a few days prior to trying to optimize the sperm count.

I hope this information helps. Please let me know if you need further clarification or information.


Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (6 minutes later)
OhOkay so once the sperm from last month dies inside of you where does it go? Does it just linger in your fallopian tube dead?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
No, it gets cleaned up.

Detailed Answer:
Just like the unfertilized egg and like other old cells, they deteriorate and the body cleans them up. There are white blood cells called macrophages that naturally clean up old cells. I thought you might like this article:
http://www.wisegeek.org/how-does-the-human-body-eliminate-dead-cells.htm#didyouknowout

So no, the old sperm do not just linger. They are removed by white blood cells or washed away in the natural production of bodily secretions.


Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (3 minutes later)
Okay, last question.. How long does the process take for your body to eliminate those dead sperm cells or for the white blood cells to eat them up?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Likely a few hours to a few days.

Detailed Answer:
I do not have a specific time to tell you, and I don't know if one is knows.

Likely the scenario would be that the sperm start to deteriorate after a few days and once they do and are no longer viable, then the macrophages would be attracted to them. It does not take long for macrophages to be attracted to deteriorating cells. So once the sperm deteriorate, they are probably removed in a matter of hours to a day or two.
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :1991

Answered : 3134 Questions

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How Long Does The Sperm Remain Active In Female Reproductive Tract?

Brief Answer: No, sperm do not live that long. Detailed Answer: No, sperm lives only for a few days. But do consider getting on a continuous form of birth control so that you don't have these worries - such as the Pill, Depo shot, or IUD. The maximum amount of time sperm can live in the female reproductive tract is 5 days. So sperm from last month cannot survive in you long enough to get you pregnant when you ovulate this month. Unless you have sperm inside of you within 5 days of when you ovulate, there is no way you will get pregnant from sex prior to that. Conception happens around the middle of the cycle, generally 12 - 16 days before the first day of the period. The length of time between the first day of the period and ovulation can vary, but in a 28 day cycle is around day 14. If you are trying to conceive, best to have intercourse in that time frame, and for the man to not masturbate for a few days prior to trying to optimize the sperm count. I hope this information helps. Please let me know if you need further clarification or information.