Men rarely take time to think about their sperm unless they notice something has changed with it. They just assume it will always be there. A male’s testicles constantly produce sperm, but to fully regenerate the sperm supply takes two months or longer. This process, known as spermatogenesis, involves all steps, including sperm production and maturation.
During this process, the body is continuously supplied with sperm that can travel through a woman’s vagina to an unfertilized ovum. When this occurs, a child is conceived. How does the body replenish the sperm, and what must the body do to make this production possible? Are there steps a man can take to keep their sperm healthy? What else should they know to keep their reproductive system operating as intended? Men also want to know how long sperm takes to replenish.
Sperm Production Rate
A male’s testicles continuously produce new sperm throughout this process. However, the complete process takes 64 days. The testicles make millions of sperm daily. In fact, when functioning correctly, the testicles make approximately 1,500 sperm per second. Over the course of an entire sperm production cycle, a man can make as many as eight billion sperm.
What men don’t realize is that they can release up to 150 million sperm cells in a single milliliter of their semen. Their bodies produce extra, so the man always has a supply of sperm.
How Does Regeneration Occur?
Several steps are involved in sperm regeneration. Diploid sperm cells must divide into haploid spermatids, which carry the male’s genetic information. Sperm within the testicles are maturing in the male’s seminiferous tubules. This process cannot be complete without hormones, as they help spermatids develop into spermatozoa. The sperm stay in the male’s testicles until the maturation process is almost complete.
A sperm is not mature until it contains the male’s genetic material and possesses a tail that will help it travel through a woman’s body to the ovum for fertilization. Once a sperm has matured, it will enter the epididymis. This tube stores sperm until the male ejaculates. In the epididymis, sperm acquire the ability to travel. When the sperm ejaculates, they will then be able to travel in the seminal fluid into the woman’s body.
Increasing the Odds of Fertilization
A man may want to know when he is most likely to fertilize a female’s egg and get her pregnant. Doctors say fertilization is more likely to happen if the male has not ejaculated for a while. As the sperm are constantly regenerating, there will be a fresh supply in the epididymis. Allowing the sperm to accumulate in this tube will lead to more sperm when the man ejaculates.
Couples who are trying to have a baby should keep this in mind. If they wait to have sexual intercourse for several days, the male’s sperm count will be higher. The odds of conception will also increase. Doctors advise men to abstain from ejaculating for one week before their partners ovulate. Doing so will also help to maximize the sperm count when the female is most fertile.
Ejaculating even once can lower the male’s sperm count. A woman is less likely to become pregnant if the sperm count is lower. Men who do not wish to impregnate their partner may choose to abstain from sex until after she ovulates.
Improving Sperm Health
Males can take steps to increase the health of their sperm. Quantity is only one factor that determines health. When examining a male sperm, doctors also look at the motility of the sperm. Sperm must pass through the woman’s reproductive system to reach the ovum. If it cannot do so, it cannot fertilize the ovum. When evaluating sperm motility, doctors measure the number of motile sperm. Fertile men will have 40% of their sperm motile.
The doctor’s office also examines the shape of the sperm or its morphology. Healthy sperm will have long tails and oval-shaped heads. When regular shapes outnumber abnormal ones, the odds of conception increase. How can a male increase the health of his sperm?
Men who exercise regularly may have a higher sperm count, increasing the odds of conception, according to a 2023 review of existing research. Males need to ensure they have enough vitamin C and D in their diet, as studies have shown that vitamin C improves sperm motility and concentration, while men lacking vitamin D may be infertile.
Lycopene also plays a role in sperm health. When a man has adequate levels of lycopene in their body, their sperm count, motility, and morphology will increase. This antioxidant is present in many fruits and vegetables.
Males who smoke are at a higher risk of having unhealthy sperm. Tobacco decreases the quality of their semen and the function of the sperm. They may not be able to get a woman pregnant. Quitting smoking can improve sperm health.
Men should quit drinking alcohol or at least lower their intake if they wish to conceive. Forty studies were reviewed in 2023, and found that alcohol lowers a man’s semen quality and his testosterone levels. As a result, his fertility may be negatively affected.
Wearing restrictive clothing can harm a man’s sperm health. The testicles should be far enough away from the body that they maintain a temperature between 95- and 98.6-degrees Fahrenheit. This is cooler than the male body temperature and provides the perfect environment for sperm to produce and mature healthily. Tight clothing raises the temperature and can lead to the sperm becoming less mobile and viable.
Male humans produce sperm daily. This sperm supply replenishes every 64 days on average. As a result, men can be assured that they have ample sperm available at all times. However, their diet and lifestyle choices influence the quality and quantity of this sperm. Guys who eat a healthy diet, exercise regularly, and avoid alcohol and tobacco will find their sperm is healthy. If a man has any questions about the quantity or quality of their sperm, they should see a doctor, as this is one thing a person shouldn’t have to worry about.