Persistence of spermatozoa in the vagina and cervix.

104 white women were studied to determine how long after intercourse sperm could be found in the lower genital tract, and if there were a relation between coitus and the persistence of sperms and the menstrual cycle. The total number of examinations after intercourse was 178. Coital interval varied from 2 hours to 21 days. Attempts were made to relate the last day of the menstrual period to the day of coitus, and the longest interval encountered was 28 days after the period in a cycle of 33 days. Intercourse occurred most frequently in the first postmenstrual week (50%). Positive smears for sperm presence were optimally obtained within 48 hours after coitus. Sperms were found in the cervix up to 12 days after coitus and in the vagina 9 days later. Sperms were also found in the cervix after the menstrual period following coitus before or during the period in 3 cases. It is surmised that the time of persistence of sperms in the cervix may be related to coitus in the second week after the end of the menstrual period.