Sex in space? Sperm struggles to navigate during weightless sex
Next, the researchers looked at fertilization and embryo development for mouse and pig eggs. Successful fertilization was 30% lower for mouse eggs and around 15% lower for pig eggs in simulated microgravity, compared with in Earth's gravity.
Six days after insemination, pig embryos showed signs of developmental delays. "After fertilisation, the embryo still needs to implant into the uterine wall," a process that uses gravitational cues to work, McPherson said. "Then the embryo's cells must organise themselves correctly to eventually form every organ in the body, sustained by a placenta that must function properly for the full duration of pregnancy. Microgravity has the potential to disrupt any or all of these stages."
Earth egg fertilization embryo hormone human Mars McPherson MOON navigate progesterone Researchers Sex Sex in space Space SPERM weightless
2026-03-30
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