How fast sperm travel to the egg

Before ejaculation occurs the sperm mingles with semen. The sperm that makes it through the egg determines the gender of the baby. When the sperm has a Y chromosome it will result in a boy while an X chromosome will result in a girl.

We already mentioned that fertilization happens when the sperm gets inside the egg, and when that happens, the egg changes so that no other sperm can get through the barrier. Once fertilized, the egg can stay in the fallopian tube for up to days while it divides into multiple cells and continues dividing on its journey to the uterus.

Implantation happens when the egg attaches to the uterine lining. If the fertilized egg fails to implant it will be swept away during the next menstrual cycle. It takes about days for the fertilized egg to travel to the uterus and attach to the uterus in a process known as implantation. Sperm meets egg, egg meets uterus, and boom: pregnancy. Some of this information might also apply to conception that happens with the help of artificial reproductive technologies like in-vitro fertilization IVF , though we don't directly focus on that topic here.

Be prepared: bodies, sperm, and eggs do a lot of work to achieve a pregnancy. Also, FYI, a lot of this information is based on animal research, especially events that happen deep in the reproductive tract.

Before diving into conception, you should brush up on your knowledge of eggs and sperm , and of how ovulation works. Ovulation is when an egg is released from the ovary, and is critical to the whole process. The cervix is what connects the vagina to the uterine cavity.

It has glands that produce cervical fluid also called cervical mucus , which passes through the vagina. You sometimes might see cervical fluid on your underwear or on toilet paper as you wipe. Cervical fluid characteristics change throughout the menstrual cycle :. During and just after your period: You may not notice any cervical fluid. Between your period and ovulation: As estrogen levels rise, the amount of cervical fluid increases and becomes wetter, thicker and cloudier 2,3.

So why does this matter? In short, sperm swim best through wet and stretchy cervical mucus 3,4. If this fluid is absent or is thick and sticky, sperm have a hard time passing the cervix 3,4. The time period between when cervical fluid is ideal for sperm and ovulation is known as the fertile window.

Finally, sperm have an effect on the vagina. Normally the vagina is somewhat acidic, in order to protect against infection 5. When exposed to sperm, the vagina becomes less acidic 1,5. During your period , the uterus sheds the endometrium, which built up during the previous menstrual cycle. After shedding, the endometrium waits for estrogen produced in the ovaries to rise.

Estrogen causes the lining of the uterus to thicken by stimulating the endometrial cells to divide 2. After ovulation, the endometrium prepares for the possible arrival of a fertilized egg. In response to increasing levels of progesterone :. Also, the rise in progesterone after ovulation also signals to the endometrium to release little sugar-filled sacs into the uterus to nourish the incoming egg 2.

With artificial insemination, sperm is often introduced directly into the cervix or uterus, so this step is bypassed. What Happens During Fertilization Time? What Happens to Sperm Inside a Woman? How Weight Affects Fertility? Know More. How does smoking lead to infertility? How does drinking alcohol affect fertility? What is IVF? What Infections Can Cause Infertility? How Successful is In-Vitro Fertilization?

Is Egg Retrieval a Surgical Procedure?