A clip featuring a senator and a senior physician debating whether men can get pregnant has taken the internet by storm. Dr. Nisha Verma, an obstetrician and gynecologist, refrained from providing a definitive yes or no response to Josh Hawley’s inquiry.
Dr. Verma testified before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee during a hearing regarding the safety of abortion medications. The discussion gained traction when Senator Josh Hawley brought up a previous exchange she had with Senator Ashley Moody.
Following Moody’s questioning, Hawley inquired of Verma, “Do you believe men can get pregnant?”
Hawley shared a video of the interaction on X, stating, “SPOILER ALERT: Men cannot get pregnant.”
SPOILER ALERT: Men cannot get pregnant pic.twitter.com/08JwHUlxIj
— Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) January 14, 2026
Dr. Verma responded cautiously, expressing uncertainty about the intent of Moody’s questions and emphasizing that her medical practice serves patients with varied identities and backgrounds.
“I hesitated there… regarding the course of the conversation or its objective… I care for patients with different identities,” she explained.
Hawley countered by stating, “The aim is to clarify a biological fact. This involves science and evidence, not a hypothetical query.”
Dr. Verma replied, “Science and evidence should inform medicine. However, I believe that yes or no questions like this are often used as political instruments.”
“You are recognized by the opposing side as an expert, and you are a doctor who adheres to science and evidence. We just want clarity based on that evidence. Can men get pregnant? That’s a yes or no question,” Hawley insisted.
“You don’t even acknowledge the fundamental reality that biological men cannot conceive. There’s a clear distinction between biological men and biological women. I’m not sure how we can take your claims seriously as a person of science,” he added.
Short snippets from the hearing quickly circulated on social media, leading to widespread discussion. Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk commented, “It’s ridiculous that this question is even posed.”
According to the health research organization Academy Health, Dr. Verma is a board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist and a specialist in complex family planning. She serves as a Senior Advisor for Reproductive Health Policy & Advocacy at the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).
Dr. Verma also holds the position of Adjunct Assistant Professor at Emory University School of Medicine and provides clinical care in Georgia and Maryland.
