Daily How Much

Sperm survival after 2 days varies: inside fertile cervical mucus some can live 2–5 days; on dry surfaces, almost none last that long.

Only one sperm fertilizes the egg, but chances rise when an ejaculate has tens of millions of motile sperm and sex happens near ovulation.

Most clinics inseminate 0.3–0.5 mL of washed sperm containing ≥1–5 million motile cells.

For a standard semen analysis, labs ask for the full ejaculate; a sample near 1.5–5 mL is ideal, though testing can proceed with smaller volumes.

Most labs ask for the entire ejaculate—typically 1–5 mL is plenty—for a standard semen analysis.

No single sperm percentage guarantees pregnancy; labs look for ≥30% progressive motility and ≥4% normal forms, plus a healthy total motile sperm count.

One sperm fertilizes the egg, but natural conception depends on millions of motile sperm making that journey.

For pregnancy, sperm progressive motility near 30% (WHO) is the lower limit; around 35% or higher is linked with better chances.

Most clinics look for at least 30% progressive motility and a post-wash total motile sperm count around 5–10 million for intrauterine insemination.

Most labs call sperm morphology “normal” at 4% or higher normal forms using strict criteria.