Oscar-winning
actress Lupita Nyong’o has yet again spoken candidly about her
decade-long experience with uterine fibroids, reflecting on the lessons she has
drawn from living with the condition.
In a post
shared on her official Instagram page on Thursday, Lupita noted that
while campaigns peak during Fibroid Awareness Month, the condition remains a
daily reality for many women.
“Fibroid
Awareness Month may be over, but some of us still have them! After more than 10
years, here’s what I wish I knew from day one,” she wrote.
Lupita recalled
that when she was first diagnosed with fibroids, she blamed herself,
wondering, “What did I do wrong?”
Over time,
she said she has come to understand that the condition was not her fault.
“We blame ourselves
because we’re not taught about fibroids. Science can’t pinpoint when exactly
they form, but estrogen dominance fuels their growth, and I’m genetically predisposed
to that,” she said.
“You didn’t
cause this!”
She also
learnt that it was not an isolated incident, citing data by Mayo Clinic that 80 per cent of women will have fibroids in their lifetime.
“When I
started talking about my diagnosis, I was shocked by how many women I knew had
them,” she said.
Lupita urged
the women living with fibroids to lean on their support system and connect via
communities like @wecanwearwhite.
According
to the actress, it is important for one to know their family history and inform
the same to their doctor.
She notes
that once she opened up, she learnt that fibroids run in her family.
“If your
mom, sister or aunt has them, you might be prone too,” she added.
She also
emphasised the need for one to know their body.
“Become
your own health detective. Keep a period diary, not just length, but flow
heaviness, clots, cramps, everything,” she advised.
Lupita
said fibroids change things subtly over time, and keeping a diary helps in
communicating with one’s doctor.
The fifth
lesson she learnt was to believe in her body. Lupita confessed to ignoring “so many”
signs because she thought constant pain was “just part of being a woman”.
“Untrue! Period
pain, heavy bleeding and clotting aren’t normal. If something feels off, believe
yourself,” she said.
She urged
women to go for immediate check-ups for early detection and the possibility of
more treatment options.
She said even
though she hates doctor visits, “the temporary discomfort beats suffering in
silence”.
“Make that
appointment,” she urged.
Besides visiting
the doctors, Lupita advised women to ensure that they are experienced
practitioners, as not all are fibroid experts.
She
pointed out that experience brings context and better management strategies vs
panic and drastic suggestions.
When going
to the doctors, go prepared.
“Bring a
trusted person along with you to your doctor’s appointment, take notes and ask
questions – check out @fibroidfoundation for question ideas,” Lupita said.
She added
that there is always the option of seeking a second voice if one is dissatisfied.
Lupita has
also learnt that it is possible to slow the growth of fibroids naturally, as
opposed to surgical removal.
She highlighted
some of the ways she has found useful as avoiding estrogen-inducing foods like
soy and processed foods, optimising vitamin D levels, trying green tea extract
supplements and managing stress.
Lupita called
for better care for women with fibroids, saying there has been a “systemic
failure”.
She appealed
for support for fibroid research.
"Join me
and donate to support fibroid research with @foundationwomenshealth,” Lupita
said.
The actress
first spoke about her journey with fibroids on July 16, 2025.
She said
she discovered 30 uterine fibroids in 2014—the same year she won her Academy
Award for 12 Years a Slave.
Fibroids,
which can range from pea- to melon-sized, affect 8 out of 10 black women and 7
out of 10 white women by age 50.
Symptoms vary from heavy menstrual bleeding and anaemia to pelvic pain and complications in pregnancy.
