Lupita Nyong'o Opens Up About Decade-Long Battle with Uterine Fibroids

Awards winning actress Lupita Nyong'o has candidly shared her decade-long battle with chronic uterine fibroids, a condition that affects millions of women worldwide. Nyong'o stated that she had been secretly dealing with the condition for 10 years, with symptoms including heavy and painful periods, abdominal pain, and discomfort during sex. According to the NHS website, fibroids are non-cancerous growths that develop in or around the womb, and many women are unaware they have the condition because they do not have any symptoms.

Key Takeaways:

• Nyong'o had surgery to remove 30 fibroids in 2014, the same year she won an award at the Oscars.
• The actress has been advocating for better research funding, early detection, and interventions for uterine fibroids, as well as increasing public awareness.
• Nyong'o has partnered with the Foundation for Women's Health to launch the FWH x Lupita Nyong'o Uterine Fibroid Research Grant, which will seek research proposals for minimally invasive or non-invasive treatments for uterine fibroids.
• 80% of Black women and 70% of White women by age 50 will experience uterine fibroids.
• Symptoms of fibroids include heavy and painful periods, abdominal pain, lower back pain, a frequent need to pee, constipation, and discomfort during sex.
• Nyong'o aims to reject the normalization of female pain and envision a future with early education for teenagers, better screening protocols, robust prevention research, and less invasive treatments for uterine fibroids.
• The actress has received support from her friends, including Kerry Washington, Ini Edo, Halle Berry, Gabrielle Union, and Jessica Alba.

Statistics:

• 15 million women in the U.S. suffering from chronic uterine fibroids.
• 80% of Black women and 70% of White women by age 50 will experience uterine fibroids.
• 8 out of 10 Black women and 7 out of 10 White women will experience fibroids.

Sources:

• NHS website
• Lupita Nyong'o's Instagram post