Sperm can survive inside a woman's reproductive system for up to five days under optimal conditions. The cervical mucus during the fertile window creates a protective environment that helps sperm live longer and swim towards the egg for fertilization. However, the survival time may vary depending on factors like the woman's menstrual cycle and the health of the sperm. Generally, sperm survive only a few hours in the acidic environment of the vaginal canal unless cervical mucus is fertile and supportive. Outside of the body, sperm live only minutes to half an hour in favorable conditions but die quickly on dry surfaces.
Key details:
- Maximum survival inside a woman: up to 5 days.
- Average sperm lifespan inside the female reproductive system: about 3 days.
- Survival depends on the presence of fertile cervical mucus.
- Outside the body, sperm lives minutes to about 30 minutes.
- Sperm survival is shortest in a dry, acidic environment like the vaginal canal.
This means pregnancy is possible if intercourse occurs up to five days before ovulation because the sperm can remain viable to fertilize the egg when it is released.
