The way I see it, the female reproductive system has a love/hate relationship with sperm. It has an odd tendency to try and kill sperm one moment and protect it another. Definitely an unstable relationship.
The photos above show both sides of the love/hate aspect. The photograph at the top (borrowed from the "Beautiful Cervix Project") shows the seminal pool outside of the cervix, at the end of the vagina. This is the last place that the sperm wants to be. The vagina is acidic, even after its walls have been lubricated during sex. Sperm are sensitive little guys and acid tends to kill them pretty quickly. That's why they need to get into the cervix quickly. Its a safe haven. Not only is the cervix not acidic, its got mucus that can protect and even nourish the male's cells.
The bottom picture shows the inside of the cervix and describes how the sperm are protected. The sperm can live as little as 20 minutes outside of a human body, a few hours inside of a vagina or a week inside the uterus and cervix. That big jump in survival rates is all due to the mucus and the retaining of sperm inside the cervix.
Its important to note that cervical mucus is most helpful to sperm when the woman is fertile. At less fertile times, the mucus is actually sticky and prevents the sperm from moving. This sticky, "infertile-time" mucus keeps the sperm inside the acidic vagina. Sorry, guys. It just wasn't your time.
Sources:
http://www.amazingpregnancy.com/pregnancy-articles/250.html
http://www.beautifulcervix.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/cervie-post-coitus-988x1024.jpg
http://www.menstruation.com.au/periodpages/moreonmucus.html
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