The question “Can men get pregnant?” has gone viral following a US Senate committee hearing on abortion medication that unexpectedly veered off course.
The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions held a hearing on Wednesday (January 14) to discuss the safety of prescription abortion pills, part of Republicans’ ongoing efforts to limit abortion access nationwide. Missouri Senator Josh Hawley, however, repeatedly asked medical witnesses whether men can become pregnant — reportedly posing the question more than ten times.
One of the witnesses, Dr. Nisha Verma, a double-board certified obstetrician-gynecologist who provides reproductive healthcare across several states, paused before responding, noting that she treats patients with a variety of gender identities. Other witnesses answered “no.” Committee Chair Senator Bill Cassidy also clarified that men cannot give birth.
Despite this, Hawley continued pressing Dr. Verma. “Do you think that men can get pregnant?” he asked. Dr. Verma explained she was unsure of the goal behind the repeated questioning, emphasizing that she provides care to patients with diverse identities. Hawley insisted: “The goal is just to establish a biological reality.”
The back-and-forth, which included Hawley saying he was “trying to test, frankly, [Dr. Verma’s] veracity as a medical professional and as a scientist,” lasted several minutes and quickly became the most talked-about moment from the hearing on social media.
The hearing’s actual purpose was to discuss the safety and effectiveness of mifepristone, a prescription-only abortion pill commonly used with misoprostol to end early pregnancies or manage early miscarriages. The FDA approved a generic version of mifepristone in 2019, increasing its accessibility.
During the two-hour session, Republican lawmakers focused on restricting telehealth abortion services, where medication is prescribed remotely and mailed to patients, arguing that in-person visits are necessary for safety. Democrats countered that these restrictions were more about controlling reproductive rights than protecting health.
