The question “Can Men Become Pregnant?” attracted worldwide interest in recent weeks after Dr Nisha Verma (a board-certified Obstetrician-Gynaecologist) was posed the query “Can Men Become Pregnant?” at a U.S. Senate hearing all relating to abortion services and laws regarding Reproductive Health Policy.
Dr Verma’s answer caused a major uproar on both social media and across different political affiliations because she explained that, rather than just saying yes or no to this inquiry, it was more complicated than either extreme due to the unique variety of identities and treatment methods of patients like her throughout our national health system.
This article will provide information about the Scientific, Medical (i.e., reproductive), and Social Context of “Can Men Get Pregnant?”, explore Dr Verma’s comments and the force behind their impressions, as well as represent Pregnancy through normal human biological processes (i.e., mechanical) and modern Human Gender Identity.
Who is Dr Nisha Verma?
Nisha Verma, M.D., a noted physician specialising in obstetrics/gynaecology and complex family planning, has her roots in India but currently practices in Atlanta, Georgia. Dr Nisha Verma also serves as a senior advisor on issues related to reproductive health policy and advocacy, and has taken an active role in federal-level conversations about public health, most notably testifying before U.S. Senate Committees on multiple occasions.
At a U.S. Senate hearing held on June 23, 2026, regarding the safety of abortion medications (also referred to as the “abortion pill”), Senator Josh Hawley inquired, among other things, whether or not females can be impregnated by males. Dr Verma did not provide a straight “yes” or “no” to this question; instead, Dr Verma commented that she cares for women and men with various sexual identities, and urged caution about presenting this multifaceted topic in such an oversimplified manner.
Understanding Pregnancy
To conceive, you need:
- The uterus; this is where your embryo will develop
- A set of female ovaries that produce eggs and hormones involved in your reproductive health
- A healthy system of reproduction allows for fertilisation!
All of the above-mentioned Anatomic/Physiological Structures will usually be found in persons assigned female at birth, not having any type of Anatomic/Physiological Structures listed above, i.e., people assigned male at birth (XY), who are heterosexual men, by strict biological definition should not have the ability to conceive or carry a pregnancy.
Pregnancy in Transgender Men
While the word “man” generally refers to a person’s gender identity, it can refer to more than simply male anatomy. A transgender man (someone who has transitioned from female to male or has been assigned female at birth) may have reproductive organs capable of producing eggs, fertilization and gestation.
According to current knowledge of reproductive health:
- If a transgender man has a uterus and ovaries and
- Has both functional ovaries and the ability to become pregnant (through the process of conception),
- Then this person could become pregnant and carry their own child regardless of their gender identity.
In addition, hormone replacement therapy (HRT), which is frequently taken by transgender men, can prevent ovulation and/or result in temporary infertility. Nonetheless, several instances have been documented of transgender men conceiving while receiving HRT.
Can Men Get Pregnant?
The question ‘Can Men Get Pregnant’ can be answered in two different ways:
In terms of ‘Biologically Male’ or ‘Cisgender Men’: In the context of biological sex, a ‘cisgender’ male (a man assigned ‘male’ at birth with male reproductive organs) cannot become pregnant at this time in human history because a ‘cisgender’ male does not possess the appropriate internal reproductive organs (i.e., a uterus and ovaries) to enable conception and gestation.
‘Transgender Men’ & ‘Non-binary’ individuals – some individuals identify as ‘men’ and have retained their female reproductive organs, which allows these individuals to achieve pregnancy in much the same way as women with intact female reproductive organs.
