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- Source: 3D Earth Knowledge Bureau
- Author/3D Earth Knowledge Bureau
How is human life born? It's an eternal topic, and it's a process full of mystery and wonder. In this process, the sperm and egg meet and combine as a crucial part.
However, did you know that at each ejaculation, there are about 200 million sperm that enter a woman's body, but only one can stand out and eventually combine with the egg to form an embryo, and the rest of the sperm that fail to "hold hands" with the egg go to where?
Spermatozoa are male germ cells and carriers of genetic material. Each sperm carries half of the genetic information of the male father, and when combined with the egg, a new living individual is formed. So, how are sperm formed?
The origin of sperm can be traced back to the embryonic stage. At the 3rd to 4th week of the human embryo, primitive germ cells appear. These cells migrate as the embryo develops and reach the undifferentiated gonads at week 7.
If the embryo is XY type (male), then the undifferentiated gonads will differentiate into the testis, and in the case of type XX (female), they will differentiate into the ovaries.
Before puberty, there are only Sertoli cells and spermatogonia in the seminiferous tubules within the testicles. The spermatogonia are developed from primitive germ cells and have the ability to divide and replicate indefinitely.
Since puberty, spermatogenic cells in the testes proliferate and differentiate under the action of pituitary gonadotropins (FSH and LH).
Spermatozoa are formed by going through the proliferation phase of spermatogonia, the meiosis phase of spermatocytes, and the spermatogenesis phase.
In this process, the genetic information is cut in half during the division process, so that each sperm has a unique genetic combination.
It takes at least 64 days from birth to the present to grow. The unsuccessfully released sperm will be engulfed and eaten by the Sertoli cells on the wall of the tube. A mature, stable and generous man can form hundreds of millions of sperm in a day.
When a man reaches orgasm, the semen is expelled from the body by ejaculation. The amount of each injection is 1.5-6 ml. There are 60 million to 200 million brothers and sisters in each milliliter of rice green liquid. These sperm begin a long journey of legend.
First of all, they have to pass through the vas deferens, ejaculatory ducts, urethra and other passages, and are mixed with secretions such as prostatic fluid, seminal vesicle fluid, and bulbourethral gland fluid to form semen. The role of semen is to provide nutrients, lubrication, protection, and activation to sperm.
They then enter the female reproductive tract and pass through the vagina, cervix, uterus and fallopian tubes, where sperm are capacitated.
After capacitation, the sperm meets the egg, the sperm undergoes an acrosome reaction, and the sperm and egg fuse to form a fertilized egg. The process of fertilization takes place at the junction of the ampulla of the fallopian tube with the isthmus.
Does it sound simple? During this journey, sperm has to face countless difficulties and challenges, and only a few lucky ones can finally achieve their goals. Here are some of the main obstacles:
Temperature: The optimal temperature for sperm is 35 degrees Celsius, above or below this temperature will affect their motility and survival.
As a result, the scrotum contracts or stretches in response to temperature changes to keep the testicles at a constant temperature. If men often wear tight pants, sit for long periods of time, take hot sitz baths, etc., it will cause the testicles to be too hot, which will affect sperm production and quality.
pH: Semen is weakly alkaline, PH value is 7.2~7.8. The vaginal environment of women is acidic, with a pH value of 3.8~4.2. This is to inhibit the growth of bacteria and keep the vagina clean and healthy.
However, this is a very unfavorable environment for sperm entering the vagina. Acids kill a large number of sperm, and only a few are able to adapt and survive.
Immunity: Spermatozoa are allogeneic cells, meaning they do not belong to the male or female cells themselves. Therefore, in the male body, they are protected by the blood-testicular barrier from being recognized and attacked by the immune system.
However, in women's bodies, they do not have such protection. A woman's immune system sees them as foreign invaders and releases white blood cells and antibodies to destroy them.
Competition: Even though some sperm are able to successfully cross the vagina, cervix, and uterus to reach the fallopian tubes, they still face the final competition.
Because there is only one egg per ovulation, there are about 200 sperm that can reach the vicinity of the egg. This means that only one sperm can combine with the egg, and the rest will fail.
Moreover, this process also requires the cooperation of speed and luck. Speed refers to the speed at which the sperm swims, typically 35 microns per second, and luck refers to the direction in which the sperm chooses the fallopian tube, since only one fallopian tube has an egg per ovulation.
So, where do the sperm that lose out in this race for survival go? Depending on the situation, they have different endings.
In the male body: If the sperm are not excreted through ejaculation, then they survive inside the testicles for a while before being engulfed by the supporting cells on the wall of the tube.
This is a natural clean-up mechanism that prevents excessive sperm build-up, affecting the production of new sperm.
In the woman's body: If the sperm do not bind to the egg, then they survive in the female reproductive tract for a period of time before being eliminated by the woman's immune system or excreted with vaginal secretions.
Generally speaking, sperm survive for 24~48 hours in a woman's body, but there are a few exceptions, some sperm can survive for 5~7 days.
In an artificial environment: If sperm are used in assisted reproductive technologies such as artificial insemination or IVF, then they are kept in a special environment, such as liquid nitrogen or cryofluid.
This can extend their survival time, even up to a few years or decades. When it is time to use them, they are thawed and injected into the woman's body or combined with an egg.
From these different destinies, we can see the meaning and value of sperm. Sperm is one of the origins of life, they carry the genetic information and characteristics of the male father, and when combined with the egg, they create a unique new life.
Therefore, we should respect and cherish every sperm, protect their health and vitality, and avoid unnecessary waste and loss.
Now that we know the importance of sperm, how can we maintain and improve our sperm?
Balanced diet: Diet has a big impact on sperm production and quality. We should eat more foods that are rich in nutrients such as proteins, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, etc.
Such as fish, meat, eggs, milk, nuts, fruits, vegetables, etc. At the same time, we should eat less or avoid foods that contain harmful substances such as hormones, additives, preservatives, etc., such as fast food, canned food, bacon, etc.
Moderate exercise: Exercise can promote blood circulation, enhance physical functions, improve immunity, and improve testicular temperature. We should stick to a moderate amount of aerobic exercise every day.
Such as walking, running, swimming, cycling, etc. However, we should also take care to avoid excessive or strenuous exercises, such as weightlifting, boxing, cycling, etc., as these exercises may cause damage or compression to the testicles.
Quit smoking and drinking: Smoking and drinking alcohol are both Xi that are harmful to sperm. Smoking can lead to a decrease in sperm count, decreased motility, increased malformations, DNA damage, etc.
Drinking alcohol affects the secretion of pituitary hormones and inhibits sperm production and development, resulting in a decrease in sperm count, motility, and increased malformations. Therefore, we should try to quit smoking and drinking, or at least control it in moderation.
Regulates sexual life: Sexual activity is the way sperm is expelled and the way sperm is activated. Proper sex can promote the renewal and quality of sperm, and can also increase the chances of sperm and egg meeting.
However, too much or too little sex is not good for sperm health. Having sex too often can lead to insufficient sperm count, lack of motility, decreased quality, etc.
Too little sex can lead to sperm accumulation, aging, death, etc. Therefore, we should adjust the frequency and quality of sexual life according to our physical condition and birth plan.
If we want to know about our sperm or find that we have infertility problems, then we need to have sperm testing and treatment.
Semen analysis: This is the most basic and commonly used detection method, which can measure the quantity, color, viscosity, PH value and other physical indicators of semen, as well as biochemical indicators such as sperm number, motility, motility, and morphology.
Generally speaking, the normal semen volume is 1.5~6 ml, the color is milky white or off-white, the viscosity is liquid or semi-coagulated, and the pH value is 7.2~7.8;
The normal sperm count is more than 150,000 per milliliter, the motility is more than 50%, the motility rate is more than 40%, and the morphological normal rate is more than 4%.
Sperm DNA Break Test: This is a more in-depth and accurate test that measures whether sperm DNA is broken or damaged.
This is because even if the sperm number, motility, motility, morphology, etc. are normal, if there is a break or damage to the DNA, then they will not be able to combine with the egg or transmit normal genetic information.
This can lead to problems such as infertility or embryonic malformations. In general, a normal sperm DNA breakage rate should be less than 15%.
Assisted Reproductive Technology: If you find that you have serious sperm problems through testing, or if you are still unable to conceive after more than a year of normal sexual life, then you can consider using assisted reproductive technology to achieve your fertility goals.
Assisted reproductive technologies include artificial insemination, in vitro fertilization, intracytoplasmic sperm injection, and other methods. These methods all achieve pregnancy by combining sperm provided by a man and an egg provided by a woman in an artificial environment and transferring the fertilized egg into the woman's body.
Sperm is the male reproductive cell and one of the origins of life. They carry the genetic information and characteristics of the male father, which combine with the egg to create a unique new life.
However, sperm production and survival are not easy, they go through a long and difficult process, and only a few lucky ones will eventually achieve their goal.
Therefore, we should respect and cherish every sperm, protect their health and vitality, and avoid unnecessary waste and loss.
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