Sperm are the male reproductive cells that are responsible for fertilizing the female egg during sexual intercourse. These cells are relatively fragile and require specific conditions to survive outside the body. Under the right circumstances sperm can remain viable for a surprising amount of time.
Scientific studies have shown that sperm can remain viable inside a condom for up to 4 hours.
Condoms are a common method of birth control that work by preventing sperm from entering the female reproductive tract after a male's ejaculation inside her vagina. Some people may wonder how long sperm can survive inside a condom if they do happen to leak or break during intercourse. Several factors can affect sperm survival inside a condom, including temperature, exposure to air, and exposure to lubricants. Studies have shown that sperm can remain viable inside a condom for several hours.
One study published in the journal Fertility and Sterility found that after 120 minutes of exposure to room temperature, sperm inside a condom remained viable in 9 out of 10 samples. Another study published in the Journal of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care found that sperm inside a condom remained viable for up to 4 hours when exposed to air and room temperature.
Inside the female reproductive tract, sperm can live for up to 5 days in optimal conditions. In other environments, such as on a surface or in a fluid, sperm survival is shorter. For example, sperm can only survive for a few minutes to a few hours outside the body on a dry surface. When sperm is exposed to moisture, such as in semen or cervical mucus, it can survive for a longer period. Sperm can even survive in precum.
Sperm can also survive longer in lower temperatures, such as in the refrigerator or in cold water, where they can survive for several days. Exposure to higher temperatures can decrease sperm survival time, as heat can damage and kill previously viable sperm.
