What is capacitation of sperm?

Sperm capacitation is a process where the sperm cells undergo physiological changes to become able to penetrate and fertilize the egg.

One of the things sperm cells “learn” during sperm capacitation is the ability to move in straight lines, which is an important step in making it to the egg. Another thing that changes during sperm capacitation is the sperm cell’s membrane. During the process the membrane becomes able to fuse with the ovum and fulfil the acrosome reaction.

Sperm capacitation is an important factor in relation to sperm quality. If you are interested in learning more about sperm motility and quality and how it affects donor sperm for fertility treatment, follow the link to our page on the subject. You can also follow the link to read about how long sperm cells live both outside and inside the body.