Lupita Nyong’o Opens Up About Her Battle with Uterine Fibroids

Award-winning Kenyan-Mexican actress Lupita Nyong’o has spoken publicly about her personal struggle with uterine fibroids, a common yet often overlooked condition that affects millions of women worldwide.

In a candid Instagram post, the 42-year-old actress revealed she was diagnosed with the condition in 2014—the same year she won an Oscar for her performance in 12 Years a Slave.

“In March 2014, I won an Academy award. That same year I discovered I had uterine fibroids. 30 fibroids, I had surgery to remove them,” Nyong’o shared. “I asked my doctor if I could do anything to prevent them from recurring.”

Her doctor’s response was disheartening: “She said ‘you can’t. It’s only a matter of time until they grow again.’”

Uterine fibroids are benign growths made of muscle and tissue that form in or on the uterus. Though non-cancerous, they can vary in size—from as small as a pea to as large as a melon—and lead to symptoms like heavy menstrual bleeding, pelvic pain, frequent urination, anemia, and even complications during pregnancy. Some women, however, experience no symptoms at all.

Nyong’o stressed how common the condition is, especially among Black women, yet how rarely it’s discussed.

“8 out of 10 of Black women and 7 out of 10 white women will experience fibroids. Yet we speak so little of them,” she wrote.

By sharing her story, the actress hopes to raise awareness and empower others who may feel isolated or dismissed in their health journeys.

“I’m speaking up about uterine fibroids. This is my story. This Fibroid Awareness Month and beyond, I hope my experience will resonate with anyone else who has ever felt dismissed, confused or alone,” she said.

“And I hope to seek answers for the far too many women dealing with uterine fibroids (80% of Black women and 70% of white women by age 50!). We deserve better. It’s time to demand it. Silence serves no one!”

Nyong’o is also taking her advocacy to the legislative level. She announced her collaboration with members of Congress to support a new package of bills focused on uterine fibroid awareness, research, and treatment.

“Today, I joined Congresswomen @rerepshontell, @repyvetteclarke, @repbonnie, @reprobinkelly and Senators @sen_alsobrooks and @senlbr in Washington DC to introduce a package of uterine fibroid Congressional bills,” she wrote.

“These bills would expand research funding, increase early detection and interventions for uterine fibroids, study the causes of uterine cancer, and increase public awareness.”

In partnership with the Foundation for Women’s Health, Nyong’o is also launching a research initiative: the FWH x Lupita Nyong’o Uterine Fibroid Research Grant.

“@foundationwomenshealth will seek research proposals to develop minimally invasive or non-invasive treatments for uterine fibroids to reduce symptoms and improve quality of life for the 15 million patients suffering from this chronic condition in the U.S. alone,” she explained. “Learn more and get involved at the link in my bio.”

With her platform and advocacy, Nyong’o is working to break the silence surrounding a condition that affects so many—and to inspire real change in research, healthcare, and awareness.