Questions, lots of questions, about sperms' journey

Erin84 · #1 March 25th, 2011, 09:14 PM

I halfheartedly tried to Google this a while back and wasn't very successful, so I thought maybe someone here could help me out. I've read that sperm "hide out" in vaginal "crypts" if the os isn't open when, er, the deposit is made... I've read that sperm can survive on average 3 days, 5 in some cases, and even 7 in pretty much perfect conditions, although that's rare... But I've also read that if sperm are left in the vagina that they'll die within about an hour. Can someone explain this to me?

Also, how long during the fertile window is the os actually open to allow sperm to pass through? I've read that in women who have previously had a vaginal birth, the os is always a little bit open, compared to women who have never vaginally birthed a child. But how long is it actually open-open? And that opening that's present in women who have birthed vaginally, is it enough to allow sperm entrance to the more inside parts, or is it blocked by hostile cervical fluid?

AND... I know on the outside of the cervix, the side that the penis actually goes in, sperm live/move in ejaculate and cervical fluid. But once they get inside the cervix, inside the uterus, and up into the fallopian tubes, what are they swimming in then?

I know that's a lot of questions, but if you know the answers to any of them, please fill me in! I've been wondering this for quite a while now and just can't seem to get it all straight.

Thanks

TnPhotoMama81 · #2 March 25th, 2011, 09:34 PM

I have no idea....But would love to know!

Erin84 · #3 March 25th, 2011, 09:35 PM

I hope you're on your way to bed!! If not... I'm on Facebook...

Servilia · #4 March 25th, 2011, 10:50 PM

I have read some about this and hope I can remember it correctly. I don't know about how long the cervical opening is open, just that it opens up around the fertile time because of estrogen.
The vagina is a pretty hostile place for sperm because of the ph level so ideally they get out of there and into the cervix as quickly as possible. Most of the sperm in the ejaculate die there. I haven't heard of crypts in the vagina, only the cervical crypts in the cervix so you may have misheard that. The cervix is a tricky place for the sperm because they can get lost in the crypts and folds of the cervix. Ideally you have fertile mucous to keep them alive while they try to get through there.
If they make it into the uterus it's a bit tough for them too because your leukocytes (cells of your immune system) start hunting down the sperm and killing them. The few that make it through the uterus to the fallopian tubes are really lucky. Apparently only a couple dozen make it there out of the millions and millions of sperm. Once they're in the fallopian tube waiting for the egg they're pretty safe because the fluid there is more friendly to them than in the uterus.

There is a GREAT documentary that covers this all. It's called the Great Sperm Race. You can watch it here The Great Sperm Race

Erin84 · #5 March 26th, 2011, 12:07 AM

Perfect, thank you! You're right, as soon as you said cervical crypts I was like, "Yup, that's what it was." I saw the first part of this posted on YouTube and couldn't find anything past 4 mins or something, I'm so glad you linked me to this! Thank you!!

Erin84 · #6 March 26th, 2011, 12:21 AM

Grrrrrrrrr.......... The video isn't working for me. It'll show me an ad then just sit there forever. I'll try again in the morning.

.:Shortcake:. · #7 March 26th, 2011, 04:05 AM

Wow that is so great information

Glad you asked this Erin!

Shadeauxe · #8 March 26th, 2011, 04:55 AM

Yeah, that was a very interesting read. I loved the visual I got of antibodies in the uterus hunting down sperm. I pictured them using spears, naturally.

KeepingFaith · #9 March 26th, 2011, 05:44 AM

Thanks for posting this Erin, I have been wondering about that too! I feel so much smarter after reading this

StaceygirlPa · #10 March 26th, 2011, 06:37 AM

Thank you for posting this Erin. Its good information to have.

joyguide · #11 March 26th, 2011, 09:31 AM

Ahh...poor DH today. I'm a gatherer of useless (and often quite useful!) biological information, so the poor guy will have to suffer through a lunchtime of "DID YOU KNOW!!?!?!?" and "GUESS WHAT!!". He has no interest in biological stuff, but really, do you think that stops me?