Lupita Nyong’o Opens Up About Secret Surgery & Launches Groundbreaking Women’s Health Initiative

By Kennedy Nalyanya

Oscar-winning actress Lupita Nyong’o is speaking out — and this time, it’s not about her latest film. In a powerful Instagram post shared on Tuesday, July 15, the 12 Years a Slave and Black Panther star revealed a deeply personal health battle she’s kept private for nearly a decade.
Lupita shared that she underwent surgery back in 2014 to remove 30 uterine fibroids, non-cancerous growths that develop in or around the uterus. The actress described the condition as painful and often misunderstood — especially among women of colour.

“It’s only a matter of time until they grow again,” her doctor told her at the time.

Now, she’s done staying silent.

In her heartfelt message, Lupita opened up about the emotional and physical toll of the experience and how shocked she was by how common fibroids are.
“Eight out of ten Black women and 7 out of 10 white women will experience fibroids. Yet we speak so little of them,” she wrote.
She also called out how normalized pain is when it comes to women’s health:
“When we reach puberty, we’re taught that periods mean pain, and that pain is simply part of being a woman... So many women are going through this.”

Her rallying cry?

“No more suffering in silence. We must reject the normalization of female pain.”
But Lupita isn’t just raising awareness — she’s taking action.
The Wild Robot star announced the launch of the FWH x Lupita Nyong’o Uterine Fibroid Research Grant, aimed at funding better screening, earlier education, and less invasive treatments for this common condition.

She also joined forces with Congresswomen and Senators on Capitol Hill, advocating for bills that would channel federal funding into uterine fibroid research.
According to the NHS, fibroids are non-cancerous growths made of muscle and fibrous tissue. They vary in size and can lead to symptoms like heavy bleeding, pelvic pain, and fertility issues.
With her signature strength and grace, Lupita is using her voice — and her platform — to empower millions of women who’ve suffered in silence.