Lupita Nyong’o launches fibroid research grant
Academy Award-winning actress Lupita Nyong’o is using her platform to speak out about a health condition that affects millions of women worldwide: uterine fibroids. In an emotional and candid Instagram post, the 42-year-old star revealed that she has been quietly battling fibroids for over a decade—a struggle she has kept private until now.
Her announcement is more than just a personal revelation; it’s a bold step toward breaking the silence and stigma surrounding a condition that impacts the lives of countless women, particularly women of color.
In the post, Lupita shared that she underwent surgery in 2014 to remove 30 fibroids, the same year she won an Academy Award for her powerful role in 12 Years a Slave. The juxtaposition between personal pain and public success struck a chord with her fans and followers, offering a poignant reminder that even in moments of glory, people may be enduring silent battles behind the scenes.
"Winning an Oscar that year was a dream come true," she wrote. "But what most people didn’t know was that I was in physical pain and emotional distress from a condition I barely understood and rarely talked about."
WHAT IS UTERINE FIRBROID?
Uterine fibroids, also known as leiomyomas or myomas, are noncancerous growths that develop in or on the uterus. While they are common—affecting up to 70–80% of women by the age of 50—they are often under-discussed and under-researched. Symptoms can include heavy menstrual bleeding, pelvic pain, bloating, and complications with fertility, though many women suffer in silence, sometimes for years, before receiving a diagnosis or effective treatment.
To help change that, Lupita has joined forces with the Foundation for Women’s Health to launch the FWH x Lupita Nyong’o Uterine Fibroid Research Grant. The new initiative is focused on developing minimally invasive and non-invasive treatments for fibroids, with the goal of improving outcomes and quality of life for women around the globe. The partnership between Lupita and the Foundation for Women’s Health marks a critical step in addressing longstanding gaps in women’s health research. Fibroids are more prevalent and often more severe in Black women, yet funding for fibroid research remains disproportionately low. Lupita’s voice—amplified by her global recognition—adds a powerful and urgently needed perspective to the conversation.
Beyond raising awareness, the research grant will support medical teams exploring alternatives to traditional surgery, such as high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), embolization procedures, and hormone-modulating therapies. The aim is to move toward treatment options that are less invasive, less disruptive, and more accessible—especially for women in underserved communities.
As Lupita puts it: “Too many women have had to normalize pain. We deserve answers, options, and dignity in our care.” With her grace, intelligence, and now advocacy, Lupita Nyong’o is helping to rewrite the narrative around uterine fibroids—transforming a deeply personal health issue into a powerful movement for awareness, research, and hope. Her efforts signal a vital shift in how we talk about women’s health and who gets to lead those conversations. In speaking up, Lupita is not only healing herself—she’s giving countless others the courage to do the same.
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