Sperm can live inside a woman's body for up to five days under optimal conditions. This is because the female reproductive tract, especially around the time of ovulation, produces cervical mucus that protects sperm and helps them survive longer as they travel toward the egg for fertilization
. The fertile window for pregnancy includes the five days before ovulation plus the day of ovulation itself, since sperm can survive up to five days and the egg can survive about 12-24 hours after ovulation
. This means intercourse even several days before ovulation can result in pregnancy due to sperm longevity inside the female body. Outside the body, sperm survive only minutes to a few hours depending on the environment, but inside the female reproductive system, the conditions can sustain sperm viability for up to five days
. In summary, sperm can live inside you for up to five days to get pregnant, making the fertile window about six days in total around ovulation
