The male part of fertilization: the sperm

Sperm cells are the male component of fertilization. They contain the man’s entire genetic material and determine the child’s sex. However, there are other amazing facts about sperm cells and semen that aren’t necessarily all related to fertilization, but are so remarkable that we’ve summarized them here:

Amazing Facts About Sperm

1. Semen (semen or seminal fluid) is the whitish fluid that is expelled from the urethra during ejaculation. It consists of sperm (spermatozoa) and, for the most part, fluids from various male glands.
   
2. A single sperm cell takes about 64 days to mature. After that, it can survive for about a month in the man’s semen reservoir.
   
3. Pre-ejaculate (pre-cum) comes from the Cowper’s gland. It is believed to serve as a lubricant for the semen during ejaculation.
   
4. On average, men ejaculate about a teaspoon of semen, which is 3–5 ml. Over a lifetime, that amounts to an average of 30–50 liters of semen.
   
5. The sperm themselves account for only about 3–5% of the total volume. Ejaculate consists mainly of water.
   
6. Even if men don’t like to hear it: Not all sperm are effective; in fact, most are pretty much useless. An ejaculate contains approximately 40–600 million sperm, but only half of them are healthy. The rest are not ideally shaped, flounder aimlessly in the semen, or don’t move at all.  Among other things, there are sperm with two heads, two tails, large heads, small heads, large tails, small tails, no tails…
   
7. Male sperm are faster than female sperm. However, male sperm are also more fragile and have a shorter lifespan. Female sperm can survive in the uterus for an average of 2–4 days longer and are therefore capable of fertilization for a longer period of time.
   
8. Numerous studies have shown that nicotine is harmful to sperm. Nicotine not only reduces sperm count but also significantly impairs sperm motility and function.
   
9. It’s true: Some foods can affect the taste and smell of semen. Pineapple, for example, has a positive effect. The sugar in the fruit makes the semen taste slightly sweet. Garlic and nicotine, on the other hand, tend to have a negative effect on the taste of semen.
   
10. Just like winning the lottery, only a single sperm out of hundreds of millions manages to penetrate the egg and fertilize it under the right conditions.
    
11. Sperm are the only human cells that are produced in one individual but are designed to survive in another.