In March 2024, Lupita Nyong’o stood in the global spotlight, radiant and triumphant, accepting one of the highest honors in film—an Academy Award. But behind her powerful performance and graceful poise was a silent, painful battle she had kept hidden from the world her brave battle with Uterine Fibroids.
Now, the Oscar-winning actress is breaking that silence.
In a deeply personal social media post, Lupita revealed that she has been battling uterine fibroids, a condition that affects millions of women—yet is rarely talked about.
“We are struggling alone with something that affects most of us,” she wrote. No more suffering in silence.”
Uterine fibroids are non-cancerous growths that form in or around the uterus. While often medically labeled as “harmless,” they can have devastating effects on a woman’s quality of life—causing heavy bleeding, intense pain, anemia, infertility, and in some cases, complications during pregnancy.
For Lupita, the journey was not only physical—it was emotional and awakening. After undergoing surgery to remove the fibroids, she hoped the ordeal would be over. But her doctor warned her: the fibroids would likely return.
“I asked if there was anything I could do to stop them,” she shared. The answer was no. It was only a matter of time.”
Her experience sparked a fire in her—not just to heal, but to speak. To advocate. To demand better for the millions of women who suffer silently.
Lupita pointed out a staggering statistic: 8 out of 10 Black women will develop uterine fibroids in their lifetime. Yet, it remains a topic shrouded in shame and stigma.
“From puberty, we’re taught that pain is just part of being a woman,” she said. But we must reject the normalization of female pain.”
Since speaking out, Lupita has been using her platform to create real change. She recently stood alongside congresswomen and senators in Washington, D.C., to support a new legislative package focused on uterine fibroids. The proposed bills aim to:
- Expand research funding
- Improve early detection and screening
- Increase awareness and public education
- Support development of less invasive treatments
She also announced the launch of the Uterine Fibroid Research Grant, a funding initiative to push forward innovative, non-invasive treatments and improve the lives of the estimated 15 million women in the U.S. living with the condition.
“I envision a future where girls are educated early, where screening is routine, where treatments are gentle, and where our pain is not dismissed, but understood.”
Through her courage and candor, Lupita Nyong’o is not only reclaiming her own voice—she’s helping thousands of others find theirs, too.
