Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o has shared that her uterine fibroids have returned and this time, in greater numbers.
During an appearance on Today, the 42-year-old actress spoke candidly about living with the painful condition, which causes noncancerous growths in the uterus and can trigger severe symptoms.
Nyong’o first learned she had fibroids in 2014 — the same year she won an Oscar for her role in 12 Years a Slave.
“The first time I got the fibroids taken out, they removed 23,” she revealed. “And two years ago, I was told I now have over 50.”
She explained that she is once again facing difficult choices: undergo surgery or manage the ongoing pain.
The Hollywood star has not yet decided whether to have a myomectomy, a surgical procedure that removes fibroids while preserving the uterus.
“I’m not ready to make that decision,” she said. “It’s quite invasive, and it poses a significant risk to our reproductive organs.”
Using a common medical comparison, Nyong’o described the size of her largest fibroid. “Doctors often use fruit to explain the size,” she said. “Some can be as small as a grape. My largest is the size of an orange.”
The diagnosis once left her feeling isolated and ashamed.
“I wondered, ‘What did I do to cause this?’ I felt very alone and scared about my reproductive health,” she admitted.
Now, she says speaking publicly has transformed her outlook.
“I feel empowered,” Nyong’o shared. “I’ve found community. I’ve joined forces with women who have been fighting this battle for a long time.”
She emphasized the impact of solidarity and openness. “When I spoke up, so many women responded with ‘me too’ and shared their stories. It made me feel less alone, and it strengthened me to continue this work.”
Nyong’o is now advocating for greater awareness and less invasive treatment options for uterine fibroids.
“It’s time we stop trivializing this condition or accepting it as normal simply because it’s common,” she said.
