In a move of remarkable candor, acclaimed actress Lupita Nyong’o is bringing much-needed attention to a health issue that impacts millions of women silently: uterine fibroids. In a heartfelt Instagram post shared today, July 15, the Oscar-winning actress revealed she has been living with the condition for more than a decade, having undergone a myomectomy to remove 30 fibroids in 2014—the very same year she received her Academy Award for “12 Years a Slave.”
“In March 2014, I won an Academy Award. That same year, I discovered that I had uterine fibroids,” she wrote. “30 fibroids. I had surgery to remove them. I asked my doctor if I could do anything to prevent them from recurring. She said: ‘You can’t. It’s only a matter of time until they grow again.’”
Fibroids are non-cancerous tumors that can develop in or around the uterus, often leading to heavy periods, severe pelvic pain, and other debilitating symptoms. As Lupita highlighted, they are astonishingly common, affecting as many as 8 out of 10 Black women and 7 out of 10 white women by age 50. Despite their prevalence, she notes, "we speak so little of them.”
The star, known for her role in “Black Panther,” shared that she once believed pain was an inherent part of womanhood. "When we reach puberty, we’re taught that periods mean pain, and that pain is simply part of being a woman," she reflected. However, after privately sharing her experience, she realized that “so many women are going through this. We’re struggling alone with something that affects most of us.”
Now, Lupita is determined to drive a change. “No more suffering in silence!” she declared. “We need to stop treating this massive issue like a series of unfortunate coincidences. We must reject the normalisation of female pain.”
To this end, the 42-year-old actress has partnered with the Foundation for Women’s Health (FWH) to launch the FWH x Lupita Nyong’o Uterine Fibroid Research Grant. The grant will focus on developing minimally or non-invasive treatments for fibroids, with the goal of improving the quality of life for millions of women around the globe.
In a powerful act of advocacy, Lupita also took her mission to Capitol Hill, joining U.S. Congresswomen and Senators to introduce a legislative package aimed at funding new research, improving early detection, and raising public awareness about uterine fibroids.
Concluding her impactful post, Lupita wrote, “I hope my experience will resonate with anyone else who has ever felt dismissed, confused or alone. And I hope to seek answers for the far too many women dealing with uterine fibroids. We deserve better. It’s time to demand it. Silence serves no one!”
Her courageous message has since been met with an outpouring of support from fellow celebrities, with Kerry Washington praising her bravery and Halle Berry emphasizing the importance of the shared information.
