Shocking simulation shows what actually happens to sperm inside body if not ejaculated

Sperm begin life in the testicles and then move to the epididymis, where they remain until ejaculation. They have a shelf life of around 74 to 76 days; after that, they expire.

Rather than going “bad,” sperm go through a process called degeneration, according to UNILAD. This means they break down and are reabsorbed by the epididymis, with their proteins recycled to help produce new sperm.

Sperm cells are packed with structural components like enzymes, zinc, and fructose. If they aren’t reabsorbed, they eventually leave the body. The body “may also release the sperm during nocturnal emission, also known as a wet dream,” Medical News Today explains.