Lupita Nyong’o reveals uterine fibroids diagnosis and calls for change

Lupita Nyong’o revealed her uterine fibroids diagnosis after suffering in silence for over a decade. Photo / Getty Images

Lupita Nyong’o has revealed her uterine fibroids diagnosis after “suffering in silence” for more than a decade.

The 42-year-old actor was diagnosed with the illness, in which non-cancerous growths develop in or around the uterus, 11 years ago. Now she has opened up in a bid to encourage more people to talk about women’s health issues.

She wrote on Instagram over a series of photos: “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. 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.’ ”

She explained that uterine fibroids “can range from the size of a pea to as large as a melon”, and “can cause heavy menstrual bleeding and anaemia, pelvic pain, frequent urination, and complications with pregnancy”.

One of the slides on The Wild Robot star’s post noted that, while some women “have no symptoms at all”, others will “experience debilitating effects”.

Nyong’o pointed out that people “speak so little” about the health issue, despite fibroids affecting 8 out of 10 black women, and 7 out of 10 white women.

“When we reach puberty, we’re taught periods mean pain, and that pain is simply part of being a woman.

“I started talking about my experience privately, and I realised so many women are going through this.

“We’re struggling alone with something that affects us most. No more suffering in silence! We need to stop treating this massive issue like a series of unfortunate coincidences.

“We must reject the normalisation of female pain.

“I envision a future with early education for teenagers, better screening protocols, robust prevention research, and less invasive treatment for uterine fibroids.

“Let’s study women’s health and prioritise this chronic condition that has never been comprehensively examined.”

Nyong’o, who also appeared in A Quiet Place: Day One, encouraged her fans to read the caption to the lengthy post, which explained more about Fibroid Awareness Month and revealed that she had called on members of the US Congress to table a “package of uterine fibroid Congressional bills”, as well as teaming up with the Foundation For Women’s Health to launch the FWH x Lupita Nyong’o Uterine Fibroid Research Grant.

She wrote: “We deserve better. It’s time to demand it. Silence serves no one!”