Award-winning actress Lupita Nyong’o is using her voice to shine a light on a condition that affects millions of women, especially Black women. The Black Panther star recently revealed she had 30 uterine fibroids removed and is now speaking up about the pain, silence, and neglect many women experience.
Lupita Nyong’o Shares Her Fibroid Surgery Experience
On Instagram, Nyong’o opened up during Fibroid Awareness Month with a heartfelt post. She shared that she had surgery to remove 30 fibroids, non-cancerous growths that develop in or on the uterus.
“I’m speaking up about uterine fibroids. This is my story,” she wrote. She added that she hopes her experience speaks to others who have felt dismissed, confused, or alone. Her message called for greater awareness and action around fibroids, especially among Black women.
Painful Periods and a Long Road to Answers
Nyong’o said her first experience with fibroids came in 2014, the same year she won her Oscar for 12 Years a Slave. She suffered from painful periods, a common fibroid symptom she believed was normal for years.
“When we reach puberty, we’re taught that periods mean pain,” she explained. “And that pain is simply part of being a woman.” Her story mirrors the experiences of many Black women who are told to ignore or endure pain, even when it signals a deeper issue.
Black Women Disproportionately Affected by Fibroids
In her post, Nyong’o stressed the racial disparity in fibroid cases. “8 out of 10 Black women and 7 out of 10 white women will experience fibroids. Yet we speak so little of them,” she wrote.
Other celebrities like Venus Williams have also shared their battles with fibroids. Williams spoke about painful periods and being dismissed by doctors for years. These shared stories point to a pattern of silence and misdiagnosis in women’s health care.
A Call to Stop Normalizing Female Pain
Nyong’o says it’s time to stop accepting pain as normal. “We must reject the normalization of female pain,” she said. She envisions a future with early education, better screening, and less invasive treatments for fibroids.
After her surgery, she asked her doctor if the fibroids would return. The answer: “It’s only a matter of time.” This highlights the lack of long-term solutions many women face when treating fibroids.
Partnering for Better Research and Policy Change
To push for change, Nyong’o teamed up with the Foundation for Women’s Health. Together, they launched a research grant aimed at finding non-invasive treatments for fibroids. Her goal is to fund more solutions, not just short-term fixes.
On July 15, she also stood alongside Congresswomen and Senators on Capitol Hill. Together, they introduced new bills to support fibroid research and improve care options. Her advocacy shows the power of using personal experience to drive real change.
