Six (6) Facts About Sperm You Must Know

There is no such thing as slow or fast sperm - they can increase their speed if they swim in groups.

Sperm is high in protein and survives in the air? It determines the baby's sex and includes good and bad swimmers? We clear up six sperm facts.

There are a number of myths about male semen. It is claimed that a larger amount of semen increases the chance of fertilization or that older men have poorer semen quality. Everything you need to know about sperm, what ingredients it contains, and whether the ejaculate actually works against depression in women is answered in the following discussion of sperm, the life-giver.

 

Swimming style changes during locomotion

During a male orgasm, several million sperm make their way toward the egg cell, but only a few actually make it near it. Researchers have long thought that some sperm simply swim slower than others. However, we now know that the change in swimming style also plays a role in selection. Sperm attach to other cells for a few seconds and then determine which direction to swim by rotating the sperm head. Group swimming is therefore particularly efficient. This allows sperm to multiply their speed.

 

Components of semen

Sperm consists mostly of water (about 95%) and only contains a little bit of salt and protein. Otherwise, it contains a number of hormones such as dopamine, norepinephrine, tyrosine, the bonding hormones oxytocin and vasopressin, as well as various estrogens and pheromones (odorous substances). Through dopamine, oxytocin, and noradrenaline, semen can trigger an antidepressive effect in women in the broadest sense. However, a noticeable improvement in mental well-being just because of the sperm is not to be expected.

 

Sperm determines the sex of the baby

Female egg cells contain only X chromosomes (i.e. female), while male sperm contain both X and Y chromosomes (female and male). Some of the sperm are loaded with X chromosomes and others with Y chromosomes. Depending on which sperm reaches the egg cell, a girl (XX) or a boy (YY) is created.

 

Sperm survive in air

Sperm can survive in the vagina for eight hours and, once in the uterus, for four to five days. Bathwater is not good for sperm to swim in - they die instantly. Sperm survive in the air as long as they are surrounded by protective seminal fluid. This is usually several hours. If semen is rubbed or e.g. B. wiped off the skin with a cloth, it is no longer fertile after a few seconds.

 

Sperm quality decreases with age

The simple formula "The older the man, the worse the sperm" is actually correct in principle. Studies have shown that sperm quality decreases as a man ages. Above all, men over the age of 50 have more and more faulty sperm cells that are no longer capable of egg cell fertilization. This makes fathering children in old age more difficult.

 

Ejaculate quantity has no influence on fertilization

The amount of ejaculation has no significant impact on fertility. It depends on the quality and the number of sperm whether a pregnancy occurs or not.