Sperm cells, usually referred to as men's healthy swimmers, are stored and produced in the testicles and their main duty is to impregnate women to create a new human being. Semen and sperm are not the same as sperm cells only make about 10 percent of an ejaculation - relatively small but already equivalent to 200 million sperm production.
According to the South China Morning Post, it takes a special sperm to fertilize a female's egg as the egg and uterus do not actually help the sperm in navigating the vagina. A sperm struggles against the tiny hairs in the lining of the Fallopian tubes, and then it needs to fight through the thick layer surrounding and protecting the egg. Experts believe that this challenge is vital in creating a healthy offspring since only the strongest and healthiest sperm will survive throughout the journey, and some aren't up in doing the job.
Hong Kong-based urologist Dr. Andrew Yip Wai-chun said not all sperms look alike as some come in two heads, while others have none - basically "all sort of alien looking". Sperm size does not matter at all because the mature one is only about 0.05 millimeters long. But, if all sperms will line up in one ejaculation, they will stretch for over 10 kilometers.
Sperm cells are also unique because of their endurance, surviving inside a woman's body for up to five days. And unlike women, who have limited eggs supply, men will never run out of sperm and can continue producing babies even until the day they die. Despite the resilience, a sperm cell can be endangered. An analysis in 2017 revealed that approximately 43,000 men around the world suffered a major decline in sperm count between 1973 and 2011.
For a healthy production of sperm cells, it is important to eat well by consuming more fruits, vegetables, whole foods, and leans meat - avoid eating processed and junk food. Dr. Yip noted heat in the scrotum, pesticides, toxins, fatigue, stress, illicit drugs, alcohol, and smoking, all contribute to the decline in sperm count.
Doctors also suggest men to ejaculate regularly to have healthier sperm cells as failure to achieve climax may result in decrease semen turnover. This may lead to oxidative stress which is an imbalance that can damage the DNA and tissues and exposing the body to several diseases. In addition, a study discovered that men who are ejaculating four or more in one month produced better sperm shape and structure.
Other Uses And Benefits
Aside from producing offspring, sperm has other uses and benefits. Semen can be used as a skin cosmetic because it has spermine, which is believed to smooth wrinkles and clear acne - creams with spermine cost for about US$200. Meanwhile, during the first world war, semen has been tested out as an invisible ink.
Sperm donation is also on the rise, wherein Denmark and America are the big exporters of donor sperm. In China, the demand for sperm has surged after the one-child policy has been abolished in 2016. However, the one sperm bank has a particular requirement for sperm donors. The Third Hospital of Peking University only accepts sperm from those who "support the leadership of the Communist Party" and "love the socialist motherland" and "support the leadership of the Communist Party".
