Health Diagnosis and Personal Struggle

In a heartfelt message shared on July 15, the 42-year-old actress revealed that she was diagnosed with uterine fibroids in 2014. These benign growths, which can cause various symptoms, have been part of Nyong’o’s health journey since she won an Academy Award that same year.

“In March 2014, I won an Academy Award. That same year, I discovered that I had uterine fibroids. 30 fibroids. I had surgery to remove them,” Nyong’o stated in her post. She further explained the frustrating reality of her condition: “I asked my doctor if I could do anything to prevent them from recurring. She said: ‘You can’t. It’s only a matter of time until they grow again.’”

Advocacy for Women’s Health

Lupita Nyong’o is determined to use her public platform to address the stigmas associated with women’s health, particularly reproductive issues. In her post, she emphasizes the need to challenge the cultural acceptance of pain as a natural part of womanhood: “When we reach puberty, we’re taught periods mean pain, and that pain is simply part of being a woman,” she noted. Nyong’o calls on society to “reject the normalization of female pain.”

Legislative Efforts

Looking to effect change, Nyong’o plans to engage with congressional representatives to promote a bill aimed at enhancing research funding and improving public awareness regarding uterine fibroids and women’s health in general. She expressed her vision for legislative measures that would:

• Expand research funding related to uterine fibroids
• Increase early detection and intervention strategies
• Investigate the causes of uterine cancer
• Enhance public awareness of reproductive health issues

“Let’s study women’s health and prioritize this chronic condition that has never been comprehensively examined,” Lupita wrote.