Who is Nisha Verma? Indian-origin doctor going viral for her response to if 'men can get pregnant' question

Dr Nisha Verma

During a Senate hearing on chemical abortion drugs in the US on Wednesday, Republican senators Josh Hawley of Missouri and Ashley Moody of Florida led the debate which turned into a heated exchange between Hawley and Indian-origin doctor Nisha Verma.

Obstetrician and gynaecologist, Dr Nisha Verma, went viral for her response to whether men can become pregnant. She refused to give a direct answer to being asked “if men can get pregnant" first by Senator Ashley Moody and then by Senator Josh Hawley during the hearing.

Hawley asked Verma, "Do you think men can get pregnant?" citing her response to the same question asked by Moody. Instead of a yes or no answer, Verma said, “I hesitated there… of how the conversation was going or what the goal was,” adding, “I do take care of patients with different identities.”

Sen. Hawley: “Can men get pregnant?” Dr. Nisha Verma: “I'm not really sure what the goal of the question is.” Sen. Hawley: “The goal is just to establish a biological reality...Can men get pregnant?” pic.twitter.com/exjxLqJBTC

— America (@america) January 14, 2026

Hawley responded, “The goal is to establish a biological reality. This is about science and evidence. This is not a hypothetical question.” Verma responded, “Science and evidence should guide medicine. But I also think yes or no questions like this are political tools.”

"You are called by the other side as an expert, and you are a doctor and you follow the science and evidence. Just want to know based on the evidence. Can men get pregnant? That's a yes or no question," Hawley said, insisting on a clear answer.

He later added, "You don't even acknowledge the basic reality that biological men don't get pregnant. There is a difference between biological men and biological women. I don't know how we can take you seriously and your claims to be a person of science."

Throughout the conversation, the senator kept repeating his question, “Can men get pregnant?"

Clips of the hearing quickly spread on social media, prompting a wave of reactions. Billionaire Elon Musk also weighed in, saying, “It’s absurd that this question is even asked.”

Who is Dr Nisha Verma?

Dr Nisha Verma is a double board certified obstetrician and gynaecologist and a subspecialist in complex family planning. Born in North Carolina to Indian immigrant parents, Verma holds an MD from the University of North Carolina and a Master of Public Health degree from Emory University.

She also has a bachelor’s degree in biology and anthropology. She completed her internship and residency at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.