Lupita Nyong’o has spoken about her health battle with uterine fiberoids. In a candid Instagram post, the Oscar-winning star revealed that she underwent surgery in 2014 to remove 30 uterine fibroids. Now, more than a decade later, Nyong’o is advocating for women facing similar challenges.
Lupita Nyong’o talks about uterine fibroids
Lupita Nyong’o has publicly addressed for the first time about her health battle with uterine fiberoids. In a detailed post on Instagram, the actress revealed that she was diagnosed with uterine fibroids back in 2014, the same year she won an Academy Award for her role in 12 Years a Slave.
Nyong’o explained that doctors discovered 30 fibroids in her uterus, prompting her to undergo surgery. “In March 2014, I won an Academy Award. That same year, I discovered that I had uterine fibroids. 30 fibroids. I had surgery to remove them,” she wrote. The actress further added, “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.’”
Nyong’o said she spent over a decade “suffering in silence,” unaware just how common the condition is among women until she started confiding in close friends and family. Through those conversations, she realized how normalized the pain had become. She added, “We need to stop treating this massive issue like a series of unfortunate coincidences. We must reject the normalization of female pain.”
As part of her advocacy, Nyong’o has joined forces with U.S. congresswomen to support a new package of bills aimed at tackling uterine fibroids through increased funding for research, better methods of early detection, and public education. The actress added, “Let’s study women’s health and prioritize this chronic condition that has never been comprehensively examined.”
Ending her post with a call to action, Nyong’o wrote, “We deserve better. It’s time to demand it. Silence serves no one!” The post received widespread support from fans and friends, including Halle Berry, Kerry Washington, and Amber Ruffin, all of whom expressed admiration for Nyong’o’s decision to speak out.
Originally reported by Disheeta Maheshwari on ComingSoon.
