The amount of sperm needed to get pregnant is often a topic of debate, with some sources suggesting that as few as one sperm can be enough to achieve a successful pregnancy. However, the reality is that it typically requires between 50 and 300 million sperm to fertilize an egg and achieve a successful pregnancy.
In the typical human ejaculate, there are between 40 million and 400 million sperm per milliliter. So, the average ejaculate contains around 100 to 150 million sperm, though this amount can vary. This means it is possible for just one ejaculate to contain enough sperm to fertilize an egg, though the chances of that occurring are relatively low.
The amount of sperm needed also depends on how motile it is, with more motile sperm being able to swim faster and reach the egg more quickly. Sperm motility is determined by a variety of factors, including the male’s age, health and lifestyle habits.
In addition, the sperm needs to be of good quality, meaning it is morphologically normal and capable of fertilizing the egg. If the sperm is of poor quality, then more than one ejaculate may be needed to achieve a successful pregnancy.
Overall, the amount of sperm needed to get pregnant can vary, though typically it requires between 50 million and 300 million sperm to fertilize an egg. The amount of sperm also needs to be of good quality in order to ensure successful conception.