Award-winning actress Lupita Nyong’o has opened up about her long and painful battle with uterine fibroids, revealing that she has lived with 77 fibroids over the course of her lifetime.
In an emotional birthday post shared on Instagram, the Oscar-winning star reflected not on her age, but on what she described as a more significant number 77.
“What I ordered ➡️ What I got,” she began, before disclosing the extent of her health struggles.
“Today is my birthday, and it’s got me feeling reflective. Not about age, but about a different number: 77. Over the course of my lifetime, I have carried 77 uterine fibroids: 25 surgically removed, and more than 50 still growing inside me today, the largest the size of an orange,” she wrote. She also encouraged followers to swipe through images to view her MRI scans.
Nyong’o emphasised that her experience is far from uncommon, describing it as “not a rare story just a rarely told one.” She recounted enduring prolonged periods of intense pain, excessive monthly blood loss, and what she called silent suffering.
In a powerful symbolic gesture, the actress shared an image of herself holding 77 fruits each representing one fibroid to visually communicate the physical and emotional weight she and millions of women carry daily.
“Last year, I broke my silence. The response was overwhelming,” she added, highlighting the widespread resonance her story has had among women facing similar health challenges.
Uterine fibroids are noncancerous growths that develop in or around the uterus and can cause symptoms such as heavy menstrual bleeding, pelvic pain, and reproductive complications. According to medical experts, they disproportionately affect Black women, who are more likely to develop fibroids at younger ages and experience more severe symptoms.
Nyong’o’s candid disclosure continues to spark conversations about women’s reproductive health, medical disparities, and the importance of open dialogue around conditions that often go undiscussed.
By sharing her story publicly, the actress is using her platform to amplify awareness and encourage other women to seek medical support and speak openly about their experiences.
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