sperm life???

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-15-2003
sperm life???
1
Wed, 07-07-2004 - 11:56pm
I have heard that once sperm reaches air it is no longer viable. Example: Ejaculate is on the fingers and then the fingers touch the vagina. Is this true? Does sperm have to be inside in order for insemination? Any help would be greatly appreciated. I have no idea what is or is not true.
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
In reply to: jenn_rose23
Thu, 07-08-2004 - 12:49am
Hi jenn_rose23, welcome!

Noooooo! Not true! As long as semen is fluid and in open air there is the possibility that sperm might still be alive. If sperm are released under non-fertile conditions in your vagina the acidic ph will kill them in 4-6 hours. However, in the presence of fertile cervical mucus they can live for 3 or 4 days and sometimes longer. If you have his ejaculate, or even his pre-ejaculate on your hands and then touched yourself while you have fertile mucus on your labia there is the (slight but real) possibility that you could become pg. If you are playing with his fluids it would be a really good idea to get on an effective method of birth control.

Good luck

      Jill