Lupita Nyong'o, 42, candidly reveals decade-long agonising battle with chronic uterine fibroids
The Oscar-winning actress, 42, revealed she has been silently battling chronic uterine fibroids, a common yet debilitating condition, for the past 10 years, saying she often felt 'dismissed' and 'alone' in her search for treatment.
In honour of Fibroid Awareness Month, the Black Panther star opened up about battling uterine fibroids, which are non-cancerous yet painful growths that develop in or around the uterus, according to the Mayo Clinic.
She revealed she first discovered she had 30 uterine fibroids back in 2014, the same year she won an Academy Award and had to undergo surgery to have them removed.
However, her relief was short-lived, as Lupita recalled her doctor telling her it was 'only a matter of time until they grow again.'
While she didn't detail her specific symptoms, Lupita pointed out that the condition can cause extreme discomfort, including heavy menstrual bleeding, pelvic pain, anaemia, frequent urination, and pregnancy complications.
The Oscar-winning actress, 42, revealed she has been silently battling chronic uterine fibroids, a common yet debilitating condition, for the past ten years, saying she often felt 'dismissed' and 'alone' in her search for treatment
Other common side effects of the condition also include pain during sex and pressure in the abdomen.
Lupita, who has partnered with the foundation to spread awareness, told her followers that she had decided to open up about her health struggles to raise awareness of the condition.
She also aims to push back on the idea that 'pain is simply part of being a woman'.
As part of rejecting 'the normalisation of female pain,' Lupita revealed that she is also joining several congresswomen to push for bills expanding research into the condition.
She plans to launch her own grant in collaboration with the Foundation For Women's Health to fund less invasive treatments for uterine fibroids.
The star captioned her post: 'I'm speaking up about uterine fibroids. This is my story.
'This Fibroid Awareness Month and beyond, I hope my experience will resonate with anyone else who has ever felt dismissed, confused or alone.
'And I hope to seek answers for the far too many women dealing with uterine fibroids (80% of Black women and 70% of white women by age 50!). We deserve better. It's time to demand it. Silence serves no one!
Alongside a slew of candid images, she captioned the post: 'I'm speaking up about uterine fibroids. This is my story. This Fibroid Awareness Month and beyond, I hope my experience will resonate with anyone else who has ever felt dismissed, confused or alone'
'Here's where I'm beginning ➡️ 1. Today, I joined Congresswomen @repshontel @repyvetteclarke @repbonnie @reprobinkelly and Senators @sen_alsobrooks and @senlbr in Washington DC to introduce a package of uterine fibroid Congressional bills.
'These bills would expand research funding, increase early detection and interventions for uterine fibroids, study the causes of uterine cancer, and increase public awareness.
'2. In partnership with the Foundation for Women's Health, I'm launching the FWH x Lupita Nyong'o Uterine Fibroid Research Grant.
'@foundationwomenshealth will seek research proposals to develop minimally invasive or non-invasive treatments for uterine fibroids to reduce symptoms and improve quality of life for the 15 million patients suffering from this chronic condition in the U.S. alone. Learn more and get involved at the link in my bio.'
What are Uterine Fibroids?
Uterine fibroids are common growths of the uterus.
They often appear during the years you're usually able to get pregnant and give birth.
Uterine fibroids are not cancer, and they almost never turn into cancer.
They aren't linked with a higher risk of other types of cancer in the uterus either. They're also called leiomyomas (lie-o-my-O-muhs) or myomas.
The most common symptoms of uterine fibroids include: Heavy menstrual bleeding or painful periods, longer or more frequent periods, pelvic pressure or pain, frequent urination or trouble urinating, constipation, pain in the stomach area or lower back, or pain during sex.
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Studies show that regularly consuming tea can reduce the number of 'bad' bacteria and increase levels of more beneficial microbes. However, green tea seems to be better than black.' Coffee, he adds, is also beneficial. 'It contains fibre and polyphenols, both of which can feed your gut microbiome. In fact, a study found one microbe called Lawsonibacter asaccharolyticus. This species was much more common in people who drank coffee and was associated with a marker of good metabolic and gut health. In general, it seems that drinking up to five cups per day can support your gut health. And if caffeine doesn't agree with you, decaffeinated coffee is just as good for your microbiome.' The main problem with tea and coffee, of course, is what people put in them. Sugar should be cut out, ideally, and if you're drinking multiple cups per day, add only a small amount of milk – though Moore does point out that for some people, drinking black coffee on an empty stomach may not be advisable: 'It can be quite acidic and disruptive to the digestive system, so adding a bit of milk can soften it and help the body manage the acidity better.'
