In plain words
Spermatogenesis is the process by which the testes make sperm. It is continuous and takes about 74 days. Sperm then spend 10 to 14 days maturing in the epididymis before they are ejaculated. Because of this timing, what a man experiences in the three months before conception is reflected in the sperm that could fertilize an egg. Heat, illness, some medicines, smoking, alcohol, and some workplace exposures have been studied for their effects on sperm. The process does not reset in a few days, which is why clinicians often talk about the months before conception rather than the days just before it. This topic is often discussed alongside a , and the couple reads the results together with a clinician.
The deeper version
Spermatogenesis in humans takes about 74 days from spermatogonial stem cell to mature spermatozoon (Heller and Clermont, 1963), followed by 10 to 14 days of epididymal transit, so the ejaculate reflects exposures in roughly the preceding three months. Hormonal control runs through the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, with FSH acting on Sertoli cells and LH acting on Leydig cells to support production. Environmental and lifestyle exposures are studied for effects on sperm concentration, motility, morphology, and DNA integrity. Translation of these findings to human fertility outcomes is limited. Semen parameters are assessed under the WHO laboratory manual.
Where it comes up
- Your partner's health before conceptionBefore Pregnancy
- Trimester Zero: preparing your body before pregnancyBefore Pregnancy
What mothers here say about spermatogenesis
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Sources
- Heller CG, Clermont Y — Spermatogenesis in man: an estimate of its duration. Science 1963
- World Health Organization — WHO laboratory manual for the examination and processing of human semen, 6th edition, 2021