Pregnancy Risk from Sperm Exposed to Air at 9°C for 5 Minutes
Sperm exposed to air at 9 degrees Celsius for 5 minutes in a used condom cannot cause pregnancy naturally—the sperm will be non-viable under these conditions.
Why This Sperm Cannot Cause Pregnancy
Temperature Effects on Sperm Viability
Sperm require specific temperature conditions to remain viable, with optimal function occurring at approximately 2-3°C below core body temperature (around 34-35°C in the scrotum) 1
Room temperature (20°C) already prevents sperm capacitation, which is the essential process that allows sperm to fertilize an egg—at this temperature, sperm cannot develop the hyperactivated motility or undergo the acrosome reaction necessary for fertilization 2
At 9°C, sperm viability deteriorates rapidly, as this temperature is far below even the suboptimal room temperature threshold where capacitation is blocked 2
Air Exposure Effects
Sperm exposed to air undergo rapid desiccation and environmental stress, which compromises cellular integrity and function within minutes
The median survival time for sperm in optimal conditions (inside the female reproductive tract) is only 1.0 days, and this is under ideal temperature and pH conditions 3
Outside the body in suboptimal conditions (cold temperature, air exposure, no protective seminal fluid environment), sperm viability decreases dramatically within minutes
Combined Impact of Cold and Air Exposure
- The combination of 9°C temperature and air exposure for 5 minutes creates multiple lethal stressors for sperm, including:
Clinical Bottom Line
For pregnancy to occur naturally, viable sperm must be deposited in the female reproductive tract under conditions that maintain sperm viability and allow capacitation. Sperm that have been in a used condom, exposed to air at 9°C for 5 minutes, will not meet these requirements and cannot cause pregnancy 3, 2.