If an egg is present and ready to be fertilized, the woman will become pregnant. In general, the fastest sperm can swim to the woman’s eggs within 30 minutes. Slower sperm take up to several days to reach the eggs. On average, sperm will only live in the female reproductive organs for about 48 hours to 72 hours. After this time period, they begin to die out. Although millions of sperm may enter the woman’s body, only a few hundred or less will actually reach the egg.