Fertilization facts:

• Completed within 24 hours of ovulation

• Approximately 400 to 600 MILLION sperms are deposited at cervical opening during ejaculation.

  • Some sperm are held up by the folds of the cervix and are gradually released into the cervical canal; this gradual release increases the chances of fertilization.
  • Most human sperms do not survive longer than 48 hours in the female genital tract.

• Only about 200 sperms reach the fertilization site; most degenerate and are absorbed by the female genital tract.

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The number of sperms deposited per ejaculation varies from source to source _ so does the number that reach the site of fertilization; Timirasí book says 100 million ejaculated and 1000 reach site.

The vagina is an inhospitable environment for sperm.