Dear Yvonne, How long can sperm last in a woman's reproductive system? -Petra
Dear Petra, On average, sperm can survive up to 5 days when luxuriating in a female's cervical mucus, which is at its richest and 'stickiest' right about the time a woman becomes most fertile. A woman's cervical mucous helps coax the little guys toward the ova. When sperm are not nourished and protected in the survival-friendly atmosphere in a female's vagina, they die anywhere from 30 minutes to 4 hours after release, never to swim again.
Dr. Yvonne KristAn Fulbright is a sex educator, relationship expert, columnist and founder of Sexuality Source Inc. She is the author of several books including, "Touch Me There! A Hands-On Guide to Your Orgasmic Hot Spots."
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