Can sperm live in the female body when not ovulating?
Regardless of what others have said, if the female is close to ovulating it does make a difference in the life span of the sperm. Prior to ovulation the cervical mucus changes and becomes more sperm friendly. Also, the cervix begins to open just prior to and during ovulation to allow the sperm to enter the uterus. If a woman is close to or ovulating, then the sperm can live between 5-7 days because the conditions are so favorable to the sperm. Bear in mind that ovulation is a brief event; once the egg is released it dies off in 12-24 hours. So a woman’s body goes through changes before ovulation occurs to ensure that sperm can survive and will be there waiting for the egg. That’s not to say it’s impossible for sperm to live inside a female’s body for several days at other times, just that it is less likely because the cervix is closed and the mucus has a pH that can actually kill off the sperm.
