How long does it take for sperm to reach the egg: A guide to conception
- Updated Feb 25, 2025
- Published
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Created with Natasha Lowe Osho, MD, Obstetrician-Gynecologist, USA
Sperm can reach an egg in as little as 15 to 45 minutes, but fertilization may take hours. Timing during ovulation, sperm quality, and vaginal health significantly affect the conception process. Sperm can survive for up to five days in the female body, increasing the chances of getting pregnant.
Conception is the key step in a pregnancy journey, where sperm travels through the female reproductive system until the egg is fertilized with one out of millions of sperm. Sperm navigate through barriers, including cervical mucus, the uterus, and the fallopian tubes. How many sperm will reach the egg before conception is also influenced by factors like sperm motility, timing, and the overall health of both partners.
Since knowing about the process helps couples increase their chances of pregnancy, we’ve created this guide to help you learn how long it takes for sperm to reach the egg, factors that influence the process, tips to maximize fertility, and how long does it take for sperm to build back up after ejaculating.
The journey of sperm to the egg
Once ejaculated, sperm travels through the cervix and uterus, moving into the fallopian tube, where the fertilization process occurs. Sperm starts the journey within seconds after ejaculation. The speed and the movement, in general, are affected by chemical signals, men’s health, and the consistency of cervical mucus.
The cervix acts like a gateway and a selective filter, depending on the woman’s cycle stage. For example, in the ovulatory phase, cervical mucus becomes thinner and more slippery, which helps sperm to swim through easier. At other times, the mucus is thick and forms a barrier, preventing most sperm from passing.
The uterus helps guide the sperm toward the fallopian tube for conception. Contractions are responsible for how fast sperm travels, increasing the chances of successful fertilization. These uterine contractions happen with the help of hormones, arousal, and orgasm, as well.
👉Find out more: Faint line on pregnancy test: What it means and what to do next
How long does it take for fertilization?
Now, how long does it take for sperm to reach the egg? The fastest sperm can reach the fallopian tubes in 15–45 minutes, but the journey to pregnancy may last longer, as it is challenging.
Once sperm reach the fallopian tubes, there will be a waiting period if ovulation hasn’t yet occurred. This means sperm may remain in the tubes for several days, waiting for the egg to be released and ready for fertilization. If an egg is already present, sperm undergo capacitation—a process involving biochemical changes that make sperm more agile and ready for conception.
How many sperm make it to the egg depends on multiple factors, but maybe only hundreds out of the millions initially released during ejaculation. Some will be eliminated by the immune systems, while others may get trapped in the folds of the reproductive tract. Only the strongest sperm makes it to the final stage, where they must break through the egg’s protective outer layer.
A fertilized egg then travels through the fallopian tubes to the uterus, where the egg (known as an embryo) attaches (implants) into the uterine wall. This triggers the placenta to form. Although fertilization acts as the beginning of pregnancy, implantation (for the egg to attach to the uterine walls) takes additional days.
How long does sperm survive in the female body?
The life span of sperm after ejaculation will depend on many factors, including the state of cervical mucus, vaginal acidity, and the overall health of both partners.
Ejaculated sperm can remain viable for several days within the female reproductive tract—usually up to five days. Fertile cervical mucus plays a key role in how long sperm can live within the female reproductive system and how fast can sperm reach an egg, as it provides a less hostile environment compared to the typically acidic vagina.
In ideal conditions, like during ovulation, cervical mucus is the most conducive to sperm survival, so it can live in a woman’s reproductive tract for up to five days. This prolonged period increases the chances of successful fertilization by ensuring that sperm are still alive and active once the egg is released.
Some may also want to know, how long does it take for sperm to come out of a woman? Only a small portion of sperm swims upward to the uterus. It can take between a few minutes and several hours after sex for some fluid to come out of the vagina.
Factors influencing sperm's journey
Sperm quality and motility
Healthy sperm have a strong tail movement that propels them toward the egg. Poor sperm motility is called asthenozoospermia and reduces the chances of conception. Many lifestyle factors affect sperm quality. The most common include:
- Smoking,
- Alcohol consumption,
- Poor diet,
- Oxidative stress,
- Exposure to environmental toxins.
Even a high sperm count won’t guarantee or increase the chances of conception if sperm motility is poor. To support sperm quality, it’s important to maintain a healthy lifestyle enriched with regular exercise and a nutrient-rich diet. Drinking enough water (15.5 cups, or 3.7 liters, of fluids a day) helps preserve healthy semen consistency.
Timing of intercourse
Knowing your menstrual cycle can help you plan intercourse during ovulation for maximum chances of successful conception. Ovulation occurs around the middle of the menstrual cycle, with the fertility window lasting approximately six days. It’s advised to have intercourse every other day during the fertile window, as the sperm can live for up to five days.
You can calculate your ovulation dates by counting a few menstrual cycles, using apps, or tracking ovulation using basal body temperature or ovulation predictor kits. All of these methods can help you pinpoint the best time for sex.
👉Find out more: How to know when ovulation is over for better pregnancy planning
Health of the female reproductive tract
The health of the female reproductive tract plays a crucial role in sperm survival and egg fertilization. A hostile vaginal environment caused by pH imbalance, bacteria, or infections can slow down sperm movement. In addition, health conditions like endometriosis, fibroids, or blocked fallopian tubes can prevent sperm from reaching the egg.
It’s important to have regular gynecological check-ups so doctors can identify and address any underlying issues that may make it harder for you to conceive. Stress management through therapy, meditation, and breathing techniques; avoiding smoking and alcohol consumption; and maintaining a healthy lifestyle all support a healthy uterus.
Tips to optimize sperm's journey
Now, let’s discuss some tips that can help increase the chances of conception.
1. Have sex during ovulation
Having intercourse during ovulation helps increase the chances of conception. If your menstrual cycle lasts 28 days and you have a regular period, it’s likely you’ll ovulate around day 14 of each cycle. Your fertile window will likely begin on day 10. Having sex at least every other day between days 10 and 14 of an average 28-day cycle will significantly increase your chances of getting pregnant.
2. Track ovulation
Aside from tracking your menstrual cycle in apps, you can also monitor bodily changes. Your hormones change throughout the month, and your ovaries produce a higher amount of estrogen during the first half of the cycle.
Once estrogen levels get high enough, the ovary releases an egg. Then, the body starts producing another hormone, progesterone, which makes your body temperature slightly rise, usually by 0.5 to 1 F. Checking your basal temperature during ovulation can help you figure out when you’ll likely ovulate.
Take your temperature while in bed each morning between days 10 and 14 before you eat or drink anything to identify when your temperature goes up. You can also watch for changes in the texture and amount of your cervical mucus. When it increases in volume, gets clear, and becomes more slippery, it means you are in your fertility window.
3. Maintain a healthy lifestyle to boost fertility
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle improves fertility for both women and men. For example, consider a nutrient-rich diet filled with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that support reproductive health. Include foods like fish, eggs, nuts, berries, kale, salmon, leafy greens, legume, and whole grains.
Regular physical activity also enhances blood circulation and supports hormone regulation. Avoiding excessive alcohol and smoking improves sperm and egg quality. Stress management is also essential, so you can consider techniques like breathing, meditation, yoga sessions, or therapy. Getting 8–9 hours of quality sleep also promotes hormonal balance and reproductive health.
Questions from the Femia community
Does sperm travel faster during ovulation?
Many women wonder how long it takes for sperm to reach an egg and if there is a way to speed it up. The short answer is “yes,” technically, because cervical mucus becomes more watery during ovulation to allow more sperm to swim faster and survive longer.
Can you speed up sperm reaching the egg?
You can't speed up the process, but you can increase the chances of fertilization by ensuring intercourse during ovulation. It's recommended to have sex every other day during the fertile window, as sperm can live inside the woman's reproductive system for up to five days.
How many sperm are needed to fertilize an egg?
Considering the fact that there are millions of sperm released during ejaculation, many wonder how many sperm make it to the egg. Only one sperm is needed to fertilize an egg, but it competes with hundreds of others to reach and penetrate the egg.
Why does sperm sometimes leak out after intercourse?
This is normal; post-ejaculation, the semen gathers close to the cervix, so if you are standing up or moving, some can spill out. The vagina has a narrow capacity to contain fluids, so the accumulation will naturally be expelled from the body, while a small portion of sperm swims upward to the uterus.
How to keep sperm inside your cervix?
You can try lying on your back with legs pulled up to your chest for 15–20 minutes post-intercourse, keeping sperm inside your cervix.
The bottom line
Conception is a complex but fascinating process. Most wonder, how long does it take for sperm to fertilize an egg? While some sperm can arrive in just 15–45 minutes, successful fertilization depends on timing, sperm quality, and overall reproductive health. Understanding fertility cycles, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and optimizing the timing of intercourse can significantly improve the chances of pregnancy. By aligning efforts with the body’s natural rhythms, couples can increase their likelihood of successful conception.
References
- Cleveland Clinic. “Conception.” Cleveland Clinic, 9 June 2022, my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/11585-conception.
- Cleveland Clinic. “Fallopian Tubes: Location, Anatomy, Function & Conditions.” Cleveland Clinic, 6 July 2022, my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/23184-fallopian-tubes.
- “Calculating Your Monthly Fertility Window.” Www.hopkinsmedicine.org, 10 Mar. 2022, www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/calculating-your-monthly-fertility-wind ow.
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