Lupita Nyong’o: Male-based health research has cost women’s lives
By Ascah Mwango, March 18, 2026Oscar-winning Kenyan actress Lupita Nyong’o has called for urgent reform in medical research, saying the system has long centred on men while overlooking women’s health needs.
In a statement shared on her Instagram account on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, Nyong’o said the assumption that male bodies could represent everyone has shaped medical decisions for decades, with serious consequences for women.
“Doctors and researchers assumed male bodies were the default, and that findings from men would apply to everyone. They don’t,” she stated.
She explained that this imbalance has influenced drug development and treatment guidelines, sometimes putting women at greater risk.
“Because typical drug dosages were designed around male weight and metabolism, women have been twice as likely to suffer serious side effects from some prescription medications. Some heart drugs that save men’s lives can increase cardiac deaths in women,” she said.
Nyong’o added that the research gap is not just a technical issue but one that affects real lives every day. She pointed to fibroids as a clear example of how women’s health conditions have been underfunded and under-researched.
“Fibroids are a defining example of this medical exclusion. They affect up to 80% of women. They’re the number one reason for hysterectomy in this country. They cost the US $34 billion annually. And they remain one of the most underfunded conditions in medicine,” she noted.
The actress stressed that improving research focused specifically on women is not about giving special treatment, but about correcting a long-standing imbalance in science.
“More research specifically focused on women isn’t about special treatment. It’s about catching up. Research is not optional. It’s overdue,” she said.
Nyong’o has been an outspoken advocate for fibroid awareness. She has shared her personal journey after being diagnosed with uterine fibroids in 2014, the same year she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in 12 Years a Slave. Doctors discovered multiple fibroids, leading to surgery. However, she later revealed that the condition returned, and in recent updates, she has spoken about facing more than 50 fibroids.
Fibroids are non-cancerous growths in or around the uterus. They can vary in size and may cause heavy menstrual bleeding, pelvic pain, anaemia, and pregnancy complications. The condition affects millions of women worldwide, yet experts say it remains under-researched and often misunderstood.
Through her advocacy, including support for awareness efforts such as the #MakeFibroidsCount campaign, Nyong’o has encouraged women to speak openly about their experiences and seek proper medical care.