Lupita Nyong’o is opening up about her health struggles. After spending more than a decade admittedly “suffering in silence,” the Oscar winner is sharing her experience with uterine fibroids, non-cancerous growths that develop in or around the uterus.
Nyong’o won an Academy Award for her role in 12 Years A Slave in March 2014. Later that same year she was diagnosed with chronic uterine fibroids, a common yet understudied medical issue in women — and particularly, Black women.
“In March 2014, I won an Academy Award. That same year, I discovered that I had uterine fibroids,” Lupita began in a Instagram post. “30 fibroids. I had surgery to remove them. 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.'”
Nyong’o, who is now 42-year-old, said that she did not realize that the condition affects so many women until she started talking about her experience “privately” with her inner circle.
“When we reach puberty, we’re taught periods mean pain, and that pain is simply part of being a woman,” Lupita shared. “We’re struggling alone with something that affects us most.”
She continued, “We need to stop treating this massive issue like a series of unfortunate coincidences. We must reject the normalization of female pain.”
That’s why Nyong’o is working with U.S. congresswomen to introduce a package of bills that will “expand research funding, increase early detection and interventions for uterine fibroids, study the causes of uterine cancer, and increase public awareness.”
“I envision a future of early education for teenagers, better screening protocols, robust prevention research, and less invasive treatments for uterine fibroids,” she wrote. “Let’s study women’s health and prioritize this chronic condition that has never been comprehensively examined.”
Lupita added, “We deserve better. It’s time to demand it. Silence serves no one!”
Understanding uterine fibroids
Uterine fibroids are noncancerous (benign) growths that develop in the muscular wall of the uterus. While most women with fibroids experience no symptoms, complications can arise and some women may have heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding, pelvic pain or pressure, urination problems, and/or problems with pregnancy or fertility.
Additionally, fibroids may lead to swelling in the uterus and abdomen, and can also cause pain during sex and at random times.
Uterine fibroids can develop in all women of reproductive age, though Black women are “more likely to have fibroids than are people of other racial groups,” according to the Mayo Clinic. The National Institutes of Health estimates that up to 70% of white women and 80% to 90% of Black women will develop fibroids by the age of 50.
Age is a big risk factor with fibroids, as their prevalence increases as patients grow older and then declines in post-menopausal women. Although fibroids are most common in women ages 30 to 40 and in Black women, uterine fibroids can develop in women of all ages, races and ethnicities.
If you’re diagnosed with uterine fibroids, the next steps depend on your symptoms. You might not need treatment if your fibroids are small and aren’t causing symptoms or if you’re nearing menopause. For patients with concerning symptoms, it’s important to address the symptoms with your health practitioner to discuss potential next steps. Options for uterine fibroids range from watchful waiting to surgery. Watchful waiting is suitable for those with no or mild symptoms. Medical management, including hormonal therapies and pain relievers, can help manage symptoms like heavy bleeding and pain. Surgical options include myomectomy (fibroid removal) to preserve fertility, and hysterectomy (uterus removal) for definitive treatment. Minimally invasive procedures like uterine artery embolization and MRI-guided focused ultrasound are also available for shrinking or destroying some fibroids.
If you suspect that you may have uterine fibroids it’s important to see a medical professional to help figure out what might be at the root of your problems and determine the best course of treatment.
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