Senate Hearing on Abortion Pills Raises Controversial Questions

A doctor called to testify by Democrats at a Senate hearing on abortion pills hesitated to confirm whether men can become pregnant.

The U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) conducted a public hearing titled “Protecting Women: Exposing the Dangers of Chemical Abortion Pills.” During this session, Republican lawmakers assessed the risks associated with abortion pills and the implications of the Biden administration’s plan for mail-order abortions. Dr. Nisha Verma, a Georgia-based physician with the Physicians for Reproductive Health, was brought in by the Democratic side as a witness.

During the questioning, Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Missouri), known for his pro-life stance, had a tense five-minute exchange with Dr. Verma regarding men’s ability to get pregnant. Verma accused Hawley of seeking to “polarize” the issue instead of offering a straightforward answer. This exchange followed a similar question posed by Sen. Ashley Moody (R-Fla.), to which Verma also struggled to respond.

“I wasn’t quite sure about your previous answer to Senator Moody. Do you think men can get pregnant?” Hawley inquired.

“I hesitated because I was unsure where the conversation was heading or what objectives it had,” Verma replied. “I care for patients with diverse identities. I look after many women and others with various backgrounds. So, I paused there because I wasn’t entirely sure how to approach it.”

“The objective is to find out the truth. So, can men get pregnant?” Hawley pressed further.

“The reason I hesitated is that I’m not clear on what you’re trying to accomplish with that question—” Verma attempted to clarify.

“The goal is simply to establish biological fact. You previously stated that ‘science and evidence, not politics, should be the guiding forces,'” Hawley continued. “So, let’s put that to the test. Can men also get pregnant?”

The back-and-forth continued for a minute until Verma remarked, “These yes-or-no questions feel like a political tool.”

“Actually, yes-or-no questions are about getting to the truth, Doctor. Let’s not trivialize this process,” Hawley responded. “This is an issue that was recently debated at the U.S. Supreme Court. It’s not just theoretical; it has practical implications for real people. You’re an expert, and you’ve mentioned following science. So, can men get pregnant or not?”

Throughout the hearing, Verma maintained her stance on advocating for the use of abortion pills but again didn’t provide a direct answer, claiming Hawley was complicating the matter unnecessarily.

“It’s not complex. I’m simply trying to get a response and ascertain your credibility as a medical professional. Can men get pregnant?” Hawley reiterated, but Verma again did not give a clear answer.

“I’d appreciate a dialogue rather than polarization—” Verma began, but Hawley interjected.

“I don’t want to create divisions. I find it unusual that we’re discussing science and women’s health here; just to clarify, it’s women who get pregnant, not men. The focus should be on women’s safety and the health risks associated with these abortion pills,” he stated. “You’re disregarding the reality that biological males don’t get pregnant.”

He further insisted that if there is disagreement on the fundamental distinctions between biological men and women, then the scientific arguments lose credibility. “I thought we had moved past this. It’s hard to believe we’re still having this discussion,” he expressed.