How long does it take for sperm to regenerate?

The article is professionally consulted by Master, Doctor Vo Thien Ngon - Department of General Surgery - Vinmec Da Nang International General Hospital

Sperm reproduction is the process of complete birth and maturation of sperm. This process aims to provide a continuous and abundant supply of sperm for the most important purpose of fertilizing a woman's egg to create a pregnancy. So how does sperm regeneration work and how much is it? How to keep sperm healthy? All will be answered in this article.

Sperm are produced daily in a man's body, but a full cycle of spermatogenesis takes about 64 days.
During sperm production, also known as spermatogenesis, each testicle will produce about a few million sperm per day, meaning that every second that passes, 1500 sperm are born. At the end of a full sperm production cycle, a man's body can regenerate up to 8 billion sperm.
This number may sound like an overkill, but every milliliter of semen released during ejaculation contains 20-300 million sperm cells. Therefore, it is necessary to regenerate sperm in such a large amount, to ensure that the sperm supply is always new and abundant, best serving for conception.

The spermatogenesis cycle goes through the following stages:
Division of diploid sperm cells into haploid cells that carry genetic data. Sperm maturation in the testicles, especially in the vas deferens: Hormones help pre-sperm cells go through this process until they become sperm. The sperm then remains in the testicle until it is almost fully mature. Mature sperm have a genetic head and a tail that helps them swim through the cervix to fertilize an egg. Movement of sperm into the epididymis: The epididymis helps to preserve sperm until ejaculation. This is also where sperm gain mobility, allowing them to travel long distances when released in semen.

Sperm regeneration will continuously fill the epididymis with new sperm. The longer a man does not ejaculate, the more sperm will accumulate, thus the higher the sperm count in one ejaculation.
Based on this, if a man and his partner are trying to get pregnant, they should ejaculate every few days to increase the chances of conception. Besides, the chances of getting pregnant will increase if a man abstains from ejaculating in the week before his partner ovulates. This will maximize the chances of pregnancy when two factors are combined: the man's high sperm count and the woman's most fertile time (conception window).
On the other hand, frequent ejaculation can reduce the sperm count in each session. This can help reduce a woman's chances of getting pregnant, especially if men abstain from sex until ovulation ends.

The healthier the sperm, the higher the chances of conception occurring. In addition to sperm count, sperm health is also assessed by:
Sperm motility (motility) Sperm need to travel through a woman's cervix, uterus and fallopian tubes before reaching the ovaries. eggs for fertilization. Sperm motility is measured by the number of motile sperm. A man is considered fertile when he has at least 40% motile sperm.
Sperm shape (morphology) Normal sperm have a long tail and an oval head. A higher number of normal-shaped sperm means a higher conception rate.

To ensure that sperm is produced in large enough quantities, with high mobility and uniform shape, you can try the following:
Regular exercise A 2014 study analyzed 433 Semen samples from 231 participants showed that men who were active outdoors or lifted weights for 3.2 hours a week had up to 42% higher sperm counts than inactive men. exercise.
Get enough vitamins C and D with meals A 2016 study of 200 men found that those who lost weight and took 1000mg of vitamin C per day had an increase in the number and mobility of the body. sperm.
Another 2015 study of 102 couples also showed that men with normal levels of vitamin D in their blood samples had a higher pregnancy rate than their male partners with vitamin D deficiency. D, although there was no difference in sperm count and motility.
Get enough lycopene Some studies suggest that consuming 4-8 mg of lycopene per day can help increase sperm count and viability, or the number of sperm in a given semen sample. Lycopene is an antioxidant found in many red fruits and vegetables such as tomatoes, papaya, guava, peach, grapefruit,...
Limit or quit smoking A review drawn From a total of 33 studies dating back to 1982, smoking had a marked negative effect on semen quality and sperm function, especially in fertile men. .
Limit alcohol intake Research carried out on 1221 men shows that the more alcohol a person drinks, the more likely they are to produce abnormally shaped sperm. Additionally, a link exists between alcohol consumption and low testosterone levels, which affects reproductive function.
Wear underwear and loose clothing The testicles need to be suspended to maintain a temperature of 35-37 degrees Celsius, which is cooler than body temperature. These are the optimal environmental conditions for sperm production. Wearing tight underwear, jeans or other tight clothing will squeeze the testicles into the body and increase their temperature, causing sperm to lose motility and viability.

Have sex 2-3 times a week: Increases your chances of producing healthy sperm in the largest volume of semen possible. To do that, men need to abstain from masturbation in between sex Use an Ovulation Predictor Kit: This tool helps test the levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) in a person's urine. women. LH levels will increase just before ovulation. If the test is positive, have sex on the day of the test. Having sex in the next few days also increases your chances of conception. Do not use oil-based lubricants: These can negatively affect sperm health See your doctor for a semen analysis if you have been trying to conceive for more than 6 months without success: Sperm health depends on many factors such as age, diet and overall sperm count. The doctor will base on the results of the semen analysis to determine the male's sperm health and assess the possibility of conception, as well as advise on how to solve it. Thus, the man's body produces new sperm every day. days and the complete spermatogenesis cycle is 64 days. This is to ensure that men always have an abundant source of sperm for conception.
The quality and quantity of sperm is greatly influenced by diet and lifestyle. Therefore, men need to eat and exercise scientifically, avoid unhealthy behaviors (alcohol, smoking, ...) to keep sperm as healthy as possible.
For an accurate and complete assessment of the health status of sperm, men should go for a semen analysis. At Vinmec International General Hospital, which is implementing the basic pre-marital examination package and the advanced pre-marital examination package, both perform semen analysis, with the following advantages:
Vinmec Reproductive Support Center is the leading modern center in Vietnam, built and applied a comprehensive examination and treatment process, combining both gynecology and obstetrics and gynecology to offer the optimal solution for each customer's case. Highly qualified and experienced experts of Vinmec Fertility Center are capable of synchronously and comprehensively deploying the most advanced assisted reproductive techniques today. Modern and synchronous equipment with certified labs international standards; The clean room system has been tested and certified to international standards, along with the advanced mini-incubator system, contributing to the success of IVF cycles. customer safety and privacy.