1. Seminal Plasma
Epididymis – Carnitine (supports sperm metabolism) – addition of proteins that support zona binding
Seminal Vesicles – energy (fructose, ascorbic acid, etc), PG
Prostate - vaginal neutralization and semen coagulation - PG
Bulbourethral gland – vaginal neutralization, mucus

2. Sperm Numbers – Size Counts
Spermatogenesis - 72d
Normal production –
X 106 in 72d
Ejaculate – Avg ~ 200 X 106
Volume ~ 2ml
Good motility, reasonable morphology required
Azoospermia, oligozoospermia = absence or few sperm in the ejaculate. Reduced seminal fluid volume correlated with poor sperm quality

3. Sperm Transit
Vagina – pH must be made more neutral, semen coagulates to retain sperm numbers??
Transit through cervix – mucus thins, cervical folds form channels, crypts. Sperm stuck in crypts die or wait their turn
Transit through uterus – simple columnar epithelium, no crypts, nowhere to hide from recognition of being foreign
Ampullae of oviducts - ~100 survive, perhaps 20 are able to reach egg
During the journey, sperm undergo capacitation, which is required for fertilization