Inside Lupita Nyong’o’s battle with 77 uterine fibroids
Oscar-winning actress Lupita Nyong’o has revealed her long and painful battle with uterine fibroids, using her birthday message to raise awareness about the condition affecting millions of women worldwide.
In an emotional social media post shared on March 1, 2026, the Kenyan-born Hollywood star disclosed that she has lived with 77 uterine fibroids throughout her lifetime, with 25 surgically removed and more than 50 still present.
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“Today is my birthday, and it’s got me feeling reflective. Not about age, but about a different number 77,” she wrote, explaining that the fibroids have caused years of intense pain and heavy monthly bleeding.
Nyong’o shared that the largest fibroid currently growing inside her is “the size of an orange,” describing the physical and emotional toll the condition has taken on her life.
The actress accompanied her message with a symbolic image of herself holding 77 fruits, representing each fibroid she has carried, to make visible what many women silently endure.
“This is not a rare story. It is just a rarely told one,” she noted, adding that she spent years suffering in silence before deciding to speak publicly about the condition.
According to Nyong’o, the response after she first opened up about her experience last year was overwhelming, with women from around the world sharing similar struggles.
The reaction inspired her to launch the #MakeFibroidsCount campaign aimed at raising awareness and funding research for uterine fibroids.
She used her birthday message to call for increased medical research and support systems to ensure women receive timely diagnosis and treatment.
“My birthday wish is a world where no woman has to suffer through fibroids untreated, undertreated, or unheard,” she said.
Nyong’o also urged her followers to support research efforts through donations, emphasising that improved funding could help save lives.
Uterine fibroids are non-cancerous growths that develop in or around the uterus and are particularly common among women of African descent.
Despite their prevalence, awareness and research funding remain limited, with many women only seeking treatment after symptoms become severe.
Through her advocacy, Nyong’o continues to use her global platform to spotlight women’s health issues and encourage open conversations around conditions often considered private or stigmatised.
