• Lupita Nyong’o has revealed she was diagnosed with 30 uterine fibroids shortly after her Oscar win in 2014. 
  • Teaming up with U.S. lawmakers and launching a dedicated research grant, Lupita aims to improve diagnosis, treatment, and policy support for affected women globally. 

Kenyan born and US based award-winning actress, Lupita Nyong’o has publicly revealed her personal battle with uterine fibroids. This is a condition that affects millions of women worldwide yet remains under discussed. Apparently fibroids are non-cancerous growths that develop in or around the uterus.

Through a statement via her social media pages, Nyong’o disclosed that shortly after winning her Oscar in 2014, she was diagnosed with 30 fibroids and required surgery to remove them.

“I had surgery to remove them,” she said, “and when I asked my doctor how to prevent them from returning, she simply told me, ‘You can’t. It’s only a matter of time until they grow again.’”

First and foremost, fibroids can cause painful symptoms, including heavy bleeding, pelvic pain, frequent urination, and complications during pregnancy.

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The ’12 Years A Slave’ actress added that “We speak so little of them. We’re taught that period pain is just part of womanhood. But it’s not normal, and we shouldn’t suffer in silence.”

According to medical statistics, 80% of Black women and 70% of white women will experience fibroids by age 50. Although these are the statistics, funding and research into the condition remain limited.

In a bid to change that, Nyong’o has partnered with U.S. lawmakers and health organizations to fight for fibroid awareness, early screening, and better treatment.

“I joined Congresswomen Shontel Brown, Yvette Clarke, Bonnie Watson Coleman, Robin Kelly, and Senators Alsobrooks and Lisa Blunt Rochester in Washington to support new legislation that expands research and intervention,” she said.

Furthermore, Nyong’o is partnering with the Foundation for Women’s Health to launch the FWH x Lupita Nyong’o Uterine Fibroid Research Grant, aimed at funding the development of minimally invasive or non-invasive treatments.

“This is where I’m starting,” Nyong’o stated. “Too many women are living in confusion, silence, and pain. We deserve better—and it’s time to demand it.”

In Africa, Uganda particularly, fibroids are a medical condition that have affected women a lot. A while ago, the topic caused a heated argument on social media when a medical doctor advised women to get pregnant at younger years to avoid them. This was however proved to be medically wrong yet it’s a perception many think is correct.