In natural conception, capacitation occurs as sperm travel through the female reproductive tract. Sperm undergoes changes to penetrate the outer layer of the egg.
In assisted reproductive techniques like in vitro fertilization (IVF), sperm are treated under controlled conditions to induce capacitation within a similar timeframe.
So, is the time taken for capacitation in natural and IVF conception the same? Let’s know about such things in detail in this article.
Time Taken for Sperm Capacitation
Sperm capacitation is vital because, without it, sperm cannot penetrate the protective layers surrounding the egg. The fertilization process takes place only when the capacitation is completed.
Average Duration of Capacitation
The average duration of capacitation could range from 3 to 24 hours. Whereas, another report suggests that sperm transportation through the female genital tract can occur rapidly which would take about 15 to 30 mins.
Factors Influencing Capacitation Time
Many factors could affect the capacitation time inside your body. You can’t control or determine the capacitation time exactly from these factors, you can just know what are the factors affecting capacitation time.
Temperature:
The optimal temperature inside your body is the most important thing that will support better sperm motility and the capacitation process.
Hormones:
Certain hormones inside the genital tract of women promote a better capacitation process, so they play a vital role.
Individual’s reproductive health:
Along with a female’s body conditions, sperm quality, and morphology are also essential for better fertilization results, so every individual reproductive health impacts the capacitation process.
In Vitro vs. In Vivo Capacitation Time
Capacitation is an important process that decides the success of pregnancy. The capacitation time may vary depending on the fertilization techniques.
In vitro fertilization and in vivo fertilization are the two available types to fertilize an egg. These are nothing but natural and artificial conception methods.
In vivo fertilization, the fusion of egg and sperm, takes place within a woman’s body. In IVF, the fusion and embryo development process takes place in the laboratory, and then the embryo will be transferred to the woman’s body.
Capacitation Time in Natural Conception
Sperm moves through the genital tract of a female, and the capacitation may take from 3 to 24 hours. You can consider capacitation completed if sperm enter the cumulus oophorus. It means a group of cells surrounding the oocyte.
Capacitation Time in Assisted Reproductive Techniques (IVF)
Similar to in vivo fertilization, ARTs like IVF also take 3 to 24 hours for sperm capacitation. According to the reports, sperm need to undergo capacitation for at least 4 hours to recognize the oocyte zona pellucida.
So, the time period is quite similar in internal and external fertilization. However, the entire process varies and is completely different from one another.
Physiological Changes During Sperm Capacitation
During the capacitation process, sperm undergo various changes to prepare for acrosome reaction. Sperm changes in ion permeability that activates hypermotility and helps to reach the egg to complete the final steps of fertilization
Role of Environment and Conditions in Capacitation
A supportive environment inside the reproductive tract is essential for successful fertilization. The female’s genital tract offers ideal pH, apt temperature, and ion concentration.
When it comes to capacitation in IVF, the laboratory temperature and other factors that are responsible for successful fertilization play a crucial role.
How to Improve Sperm Health for Efficient Capacitation?
Improving sperm health supports effective capacitation and improves the success of pregnancy outcomes. Adding male fertility-boosting foods and implementing some lifestyle changes will possibly bring several benefits for overall health too.
Here is an elaboration; take a glance.
Diet and Lifestyle Factors
- Quit smoking, as cigarettes contribute to poor sperm quality and production.
- Make sure to get 7 to 9 hours of quality sleep to maintain better hormone balance.
- Avoid using hot tubs and saunas, and don’t wear tight underwear; these habits will maintain optimal temperature for sperm production.
- Drinking more than 5 units of alcohol per week can reduce sperm quality and could lead to testicles shrinking.
- Add antioxidant-rich items to your diet to improve sperm health. It includes walnuts, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, beans, spinach, pumpkin seeds, avocados, leafy greens, and pomegranate.
- Stop high caffeine intake, soy, high-fat dairy, processed meat, and high-carbonated sugary drinks; these items can affect sperm production and quality.
Medical and Clinical Approaches
Male fertility supplements can increase sperm production, capacitation, and count.
However, before considering any medications or supplements, consult with your fertility expert. Because they can suggest better medicines according to your reproductive health.
L-carnitine is associated with improving capacitation, motility, and fertilization rates along with boosting brain health. So, ask suggestions to your doctor; if they prescribe it, then you can take it accordingly.
Apart from these medicines, you can also consider CoQ10, Selenium, Vitamin D, C, and E, Folate, Lycopene, D-aspartic acid (D-AA), and zinc supplements to boost male fertility. However, proper prescription and dosage amount are essential; make sure to consult your doctor.
Summary
In conclusion, sperm capacitation is an intricate and time-dependent process, which is important for successful fertilization. This could take 24 hours and the baby’s genetic makeup will complete after the fertilization. It means the baby could be either a boy or a girl.
So, sperm and an individual’s reproductive health hold several benefits. Make sure to follow the diet and lifestyle habits to improve the conception chances. You can even consult your doctor to learn about some best tips for enhancing your reproductive health.
FAQs
Capacitation takes place in the reproductive tract and takes about 10 hours. However, the overall fertilization will take approximately 24 hours. This is in the case of natural conception.
But, when it comes to the IVF procedure, the capacitation time differs according to the laboratory conditions and environment.
Yes, the capacitation time varies between individuals for several reasons. In particular, the reproductive health of both men and women.
In both in vivo and in vitro fertilization, the capacitation process will be completed after the sperm undergoes the activation, which is the final maturation step.
In simple terms, if the sperm reaches the fertilization site to interact with the egg, then you can consider the capacitation is completed.
