Sperm Sense of Smell

A study done in 2003 aimed to find out more about sperm—specifically, the notion that sperm have a sense of smell. Scientists from the United States and Germany found that an odorant receptor that has been found on sperm is able to direct movement. Thought it is unknown if the compound that attracts the sperm is from the egg or another part of the female reproductive system, researchers do believe that sperm have their own sense of smell, which could prove helpful in fertility treatments. Scientists are still learning more about this receptor, hOR17-4, but they, along with the general public, were surprised to learn that sperm do, in fact, have a sense of smell.