Lupita Nyong’o Reflects on 10-Year Battle with Fibroids

Lupita Nyong’o/HANDOUT

Lupita Nyong’o has once again opened up about her struggle with uterine fibroids, using her platform to shed light on what she calls a “silent struggle” faced by millions of women around the world.

The Oscar-winning actress took to her official Instagram account on Thursday, September 11, 2025, where she reflected on her 10-year journey with the condition and offered key lessons she has learned.

“Fibroid Awareness Month may be over, but some of us still have them! After 10+ years, here’s what I wish I knew from day one,” Nyong’o wrote.

Nyong’o admitted that when she was first diagnosed, she blamed herself and thought she had done something wrong.

Over time, she came to understand that fibroids are not the result of personal failure but often linked to hormonal and genetic factors.

“You didn’t cause this,” she wrote, stressing that women should not carry guilt for something beyond their control.

As she began sharing her story, she was surprised to discover just how common the condition is, with many women around her quietly living with fibroids.

That realization reinforced the importance of community and support systems, reminding her and others that they are not alone in the struggle.

Opening up also helped her uncover an important piece of her own health puzzle: fibroids run in her family. Nyong’o urged women to learn their family history and share it with their doctors, as it could shape treatment decisions.

She added that being in tune with one’s body is equally crucial. Keeping track of changes in flow, cramps, or clots over time, she explained, provides invaluable records that help doctors understand symptoms more clearly.

But knowing one’s body also means believing it. The actress recalled dismissing pain as a normal part of womanhood, only to later learn that heavy bleeding, clotting, and debilitating cramps are not symptoms to ignore.

Nyong’o acknowledged her dislike for hospital visits but insisted that early detection is vital because it expands the range of treatment options available.

She further encouraged women to seek doctors with experience in managing fibroids, noting that expertise often leads to better strategies and reassurance rather than drastic measures.

Her advice extended to practical steps during appointments bringing along a trusted person, asking questions, and taking notes to ensure nothing is overlooked. And when a patient does not feel heard, she said, there is always the option of seeking a second opinion.

While surgery is common, Nyong’o pointed out that some lifestyle adjustments may help slow fibroid growth.

She highlighted approaches such as reducing estrogen-inducing foods, maintaining healthy vitamin D levels, exploring supplements like green tea extract, and finding ways to manage stress.

Ultimately, her message was not just personal but political. Despite fibroids affecting the majority of women, research into the condition remains limited.

Calling this a systemic failure, she urged women to demand better funding, more studies, and improved treatment options. “We deserve better,” she concluded.

Her latest reflection comes just weeks after she revealed, for the first time, that she underwent surgery in 2014 to remove 30 fibroids shortly after winning her Academy Award.

She noted that the same year, she discovered she had uterine fibroids. Thirty fibroids. she had surgery to remove them.

The actress has since made it her mission to challenge stigma and raise awareness about fibroids, a condition that she says is often ignored once awareness month ends.

What Are Fibroids?

Uterine fibroids are non-cancerous growths that develop in or around the uterus. They can range in size from as small as a pea to as large as a melon.

While some women experience no symptoms, others face heavy menstrual bleeding, anaemia, pelvic pain, frequent urination, or pregnancy complications.

Medical experts say up to 80 percent of women will have fibroids in their lifetime, but many remain undiagnosed due to lack of awareness and limited access to specialized care.