Lupita Nyong’o is using her platform to shed light on a health issue many women face but few talk about openly—uterine fibroids.
In a powerful Instagram post shared on Tuesday (July 15), the Oscar-winning actress revealed that she was diagnosed with uterine fibroids back in 2014, the same year she won her Academy Award. Her story highlights not only her personal journey but also the broader need to challenge how women’s pain is often brushed aside.
“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,” Lupita shared. “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 recalled how, growing up, she and many others were conditioned to think that pain associated with menstruation was normal and something to be endured in silence.
“When we reach puberty, we’re taught periods mean pain, and that pain is simply part of being a woman,” Lupita wrote. But she’s calling time on that narrative, urging people to “reject the normalization of female pain.”
Now, at 42, Lupita says she’s ready to speak out—not just for herself, but for the countless women dealing with reproductive health issues in silence. Her post goes beyond personal reflection. She announced she’s working with U.S. congresswomen to introduce a new bill aimed at funding more research into uterine fibroids and uterine cancer, while also boosting public awareness.
She wrote, “Let’s study women’s health and prioritize this chronic condition that has never been comprehensively examined.”
It’s a powerful reminder of the need for more open conversations and more medical attention to issues that affect women’s bodies. Lupita’s honesty not only humanizes the struggle but also empowers others to speak up, seek help, and push for better care.
