The Lifecycle of a Sperm

When you undergo a male fertility test in London, your sample will be tested by trained medical professionals who will use that information to give you a detailed semen analysis concerning the quality, quantity, and motility of your sperm. This helps to determine possible reasons why you are having difficulty conceiving and helps our clinicians to propose possible solutions for improving your sperm count.

But what about the sperm themselves? These minuscule reproductive cells have a fascinating lifespan from their initial formation in your testicles to when they are ejaculated from your body in their millions. In this article, we will take a look at the life cycle of a sperm to give you a better understanding of how they function.

Sperm production

The testicles of a healthy adult male produce millions of sperm cells every day. The sperm start off as germ cells in the seminiferous tubules (a network of tubs located in the testicles) and are converted into sperm by certain hormones, of which the most notable is testosterone. These sperm cells (or spermatozoa) divide and grow, becoming the familiar tadpole shape that most of us recognise as active sperm.

Moving on

Once the spermatozoa have fully developed their tails, they move from the seminiferous tubules to the epididymis, which is another tube located just behind the testes. They spend around five weeks here, travelling the length of the tube and continuing to develop as they go. Once fully developed, the sperm moves from the epididymis to the vas deferens (commonly referred to as the sperm duct).

The end of the journey

This whole process takes around two and a half months, from germ cell to mature spermatozoa. When a man becomes aroused, his body produces seminal fluid from the seminal vesicles and the prostate gland. This mixes with around 200-400 million individuals sperm cells to create semen, protecting the sperm as it is evacuated from the penis, through the urethra during ejaculation. If a man doesn’t ejaculate (whether through sex or masturbation) the sperm cells will be broken down in the body over time and reabsorbed.

A constant cycle

While this describes the life cycle of a typical sperm, the production of spermatozoa is happening constantly. A healthy adult male needn’t worry that he is going to run out of sperm, even if he ejaculates several times per day – your body is always making more for you.

If you need a male fertility test in London or Surrey, the Male Fertility Clinic is here to help. Book an appointment online and follow the easy guide to arrange a detailed semen analysis with our highly trained and experienced health professionals.