Hollywood actress Lupita Nyong’o has once again opened her heart about her decade-long struggle with uterine fibroids, sharing the hard-earned lessons from living with the condition.
Taking to Instagram on Thursday, September 11, 2025, Lupita reminded her followers that fibroids remain a silent struggle for many women—even when awareness campaigns fade after Fibroid Awareness Month.
“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,” she wrote.
Reflecting on her journey, Lupita shared ten lessons she wishes she had known from the very beginning. She admitted that upon diagnosis, she initially blamed herself, thinking she had done something wrong. She also discovered fibroids run in families, learning that some of her relatives had experienced them too.
She emphasized the importance of early detection and seeking medical guidance, noting that early diagnosis can provide more treatment options.
Lupita also advised women to bring a trusted companion to doctor visits, ask questions, and seek a second opinion when needed.
In a deeply personal revelation, the award-winning actress shared that she underwent surgery in 2014 to remove 30 uterine fibroids shortly after winning her Academy Award.
“In March 2014, I won an Academy Award. That same year, I discovered I had uterine fibroids. Thirty fibroids. I had surgery to remove them,” she wrote.
When she asked her doctor how to prevent recurrence, the answer was sobering: “You can’t. It’s only a matter of time until they grow again.”
Lupita described uterine fibroids as non-cancerous growths in or around the uterus, ranging from the size of a pea to as large as a melon.
They can cause heavy menstrual bleeding, anemia, pelvic pain, frequent urination, pregnancy complications, or sometimes have no symptoms at all.
Her reflection is a powerful reminder of resilience, self-care, and the importance of women supporting women through silent struggles that often go unseen.
