Final answer:
Men indeed produce approximately 200 million sperm per ejaculate, and this production is a core function of the male reproductive system. While massive in numbers, the count and quality of sperm can decline with age and health conditions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The production of sperm is one of the key functions of the male reproductive system. A normal, healthy male can produce a significant amount of sperm regularly, often hundreds of millions each day. During ejaculation, a combination of sperm and secretions from the seminal vesicles, prostate gland, and bulbourethral glands form the semen, with sperm cells comprising a tiny portion of the semen's total volume.
Although a vast quantity of sperm is produced, the journey to the oocyte is challenging and hostile, as most sperm do not reach their destination or are destroyed by the alkaline environment of the uterus. Still, it only requires a single sperm to successfully fertilize an egg. While production remains fairly steadied throughout a male's life, factors like age and health can affect the quantity and quality of sperm produced. As men age, the count and quality of sperm typically decline.