Updated by: Arabinda Naik
Sperm encounter barrier: physical barrier- thick endometrial lining. Chemical barrier- female tract is acidic. Hence prostaglandins help sperm by contraction of vagina and uterus by which sperm easily pass through the uterus and vagina. From the vagina the sperms travel up the uterus but only 100 numbers find their way into the opening of the fallopian tubes remaining lost during journey by different barrier. Most of the sperms are killed by the acidity of female genital tract and many are engulfed by phagocytes of the vaginal epithelium. As a result, only about 100 sperms reach the fallopian tube. The survival period of sperms in the female genital tract is about 12-24 hours. While they survive up to 3 days.