A US Senate hearing on abortion pill safety recently took an unexpected turn when a Republican Senator repeatedly asked a doctor if men can get pregnant, sparking a heated exchange that has gone viral across social media.
During the hearing, Dr. Nisha Verma, an obstetrician-gynecologist from Atlanta, was questioned by Senator Josh Hawley about whether men can become pregnant. While Verma stated that she treats patients with various identities and does not limit her care to women, she refused to give a direct yes-or-no answer, describing the exchange as "polarizing."
Hawley pressed for a definitive response, saying, "The goal is to establish a biological reality... You just said a moment ago that science and evidence should control, not politics." In response, Verma explained that her practice includes patients of different identities and emphasized the importance of using evidence-based medicine.
The exchange has reignited debates over reproductive rights, gender identity, and abortion policy, resonating with Americans as lawmakers consider the safety and regulation of medication abortion. Social media platforms are abuzz with comments on the viral video, which has been viewed millions of times.
Verma's background and expertise have garnered attention, with her being a practicing obstetrician-gynecologist, complex family planning specialist, and clinician researcher committed to improving access to abortion care in the US Southeast.
The exchange highlights ongoing national debates over language and science in reproductive health care discussions and the role of gender identity in medicine. Federal agencies are also reviewing medication abortion safety, which may lead to further congressional scrutiny and polarized debate.
During the hearing, Dr. Nisha Verma, an obstetrician-gynecologist from Atlanta, was questioned by Senator Josh Hawley about whether men can become pregnant. While Verma stated that she treats patients with various identities and does not limit her care to women, she refused to give a direct yes-or-no answer, describing the exchange as "polarizing."
Hawley pressed for a definitive response, saying, "The goal is to establish a biological reality... You just said a moment ago that science and evidence should control, not politics." In response, Verma explained that her practice includes patients of different identities and emphasized the importance of using evidence-based medicine.
The exchange has reignited debates over reproductive rights, gender identity, and abortion policy, resonating with Americans as lawmakers consider the safety and regulation of medication abortion. Social media platforms are abuzz with comments on the viral video, which has been viewed millions of times.
Verma's background and expertise have garnered attention, with her being a practicing obstetrician-gynecologist, complex family planning specialist, and clinician researcher committed to improving access to abortion care in the US Southeast.
The exchange highlights ongoing national debates over language and science in reproductive health care discussions and the role of gender identity in medicine. Federal agencies are also reviewing medication abortion safety, which may lead to further congressional scrutiny and polarized debate.
i'm so done with these politicians trying to turn everything into a circus they're just making a fool out of themselves and verma is like "girl bye" 
meanwhile dr verma is just doing her thing and saving lives with her expertise and compassion she's literally the real MVP 
this is crazy! i'm shocked that someone would ask a doc like that in real life 
senator hawley needs to get educated on what's even possible with human bodies lol. it's not about politics, it's about respect for ppl's identities and boundaries 
she's right, science should guide our conversations, not just the opposite side of the aisle 
this whole thing is highlighting how far we still have to go in having respectful discussions around reproductive health 
this is why we gotta have real conversations about reproductive rights... it's not just about "men getting pregnant" (like that's even biologically possible lol)... it's about respecting people's autonomy & identities 
we need docs like Dr. Verma who prioritize science, compassion & care over ideology 
it's like, hello biology 101! Anyway, let's take a look at the stats: 
and btw, Dr. Verma is a total rockstar 
! 90% of patients who use medication abortion report feeling more in control of their bodies (Source: Planned Parenthood)
like, why are we so hung up on what ppl can and cant get preggo? 
What a ridiculous question! It's not about biology, it's about consent & bodily autonomy 
he thinks just asking a doc if men can get preg goes to the heart of the issue lol what's next? asking about unicorns 
like seriously though, Repro rights are one thing, but do we REALLY need to stir up drama over basic science facts? 
Dr Nisha Verma was just trying to give an answer that's based on science, but he's all like "yes/no" and it's soooo unnecessary. Like, hello, men do get pregnant too (it's called paternity test results 
) - why not just accept the truth? 
! Anyway, Dr Verma seems super cool and knowledgeable, can't wait to learn more about her work 
! Like what's next? Asking if gay men can have kids? 
. Dr. Verma is totally right btw 
we should be talking about science and evidence, not like, who gets to control the narrative in this conversation 
. And can we please just stick to facts for once? 
!
. anyhooz, Verma sounds like an amazing doc 
. And can we please just have a straightforward conversation about this stuff without sensationalizing it? 
What's next, asking if women can breathe? 
The fact that this guy asked and got heated says more about his own lack of understanding than the doc's expertise. 
Science over politics, no need for a yes/no answer, just "no, dude". 