Lupita Nyong’o Says Faith-Based Sex Ed Left Her Unprepared For Serious Fibroid Symptoms

Lupita Nyong'o has suffered a reoccurrence of the fibroids condition she was first diagnosed with in 2014.

Lupita Nyong’o recently revealed that she continues to face severe fibroid complications more than a decade after her initial diagnosis.

The actress was first diagnosed with uterine fibroids in 2014, the same year she won an Academy Award for her performance in “12 Years A Slave.”

In a recent interview, Nyong’o said her Christian sex education taught her to expect monthly pain. As a result, symptoms like heavy bleeding didn’t sound an alarm when they first appeared.

The Oscar winner is now channeling her personal struggle into advocacy by launching a campaign to raise funds for fibroids research and expand treatment options.

Nyong’o has also stressed the importance of speaking up about a condition that affects millions of women.

Lupita Nyong’o On Her Fibroids Being Back ‘With A Vengeance’

Nyong’o opened up about the recurrence of her fibroids during an interview with TODAY.com.

The Kenyan-born actress was first diagnosed after doctors discovered multiple uterine fibroids during a routine gynecological ultrasound in 2014.

At the time, she reportedly had around 30 of the noncancerous muscle-and-tissue growths in her uterus, which were later removed through surgery.

More than a decade later, however, Nyong’o says she was devastated to learn they had returned.

“When I found out two years ago that my fibroids were back, back with a vengeance, and I was so upset because I feel powerless,” she said. “It’s a ticking bomb. They’re going haywire in my body, and nobody is helping. Nobody knows what to do to mitigate them.”

The Actress ‘Thought Severe Period Pain Was Normal’ After Christian Sex Ed

Despite how debilitating fibroid symptoms can be, Nyong’o says that, for years, she believed what she was experiencing was simply part of being a woman.

The “Black Panther” star said her Christian sex education shaped that mindset, as she was taught to expect monthly pain once her period began.

“They taught me that once my period started, that I should expect to be in pain every month,” Nyong’o explained. “So, when I was experiencing the heavy bleeding, it didn’t sound an alarm.”

Even when she noticed clotting, the actress said she didn’t perceive it as a warning sign.

“The clotting was not anything remarkable to me,” she continued. “I didn’t understand my body. I didn’t know what was going on, and I didn’t know to be worried.”

Lupita Nyong’o Launches #MakeFibroidsCount Campaign

 

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As part of her effort to expand funding for fibroids research, Nyong’o has launched the #MakeFibroidsCount campaign, a GoFundMe initiative with a $200,000 fundraising goal.

The Broadway star shared the announcement on her Instagram page, revealing that the drive will run through March 31.

According to the official campaign page, the initiative aims to support the development of new treatment options that are more dignified, less invasive, and accessible to the millions of women affected.

“The challenge with fibroids is that they are invisible to the naked eye,” the campaign description states. “Treatment options remain limited and are often extremely invasive, and education about how they impact quality of life and fertility is shockingly sparse.”

Nyong’o Takes Fibroid Fight To Capitol Hill

Nyong’o’s determination to push for better fibroid treatment options has taken her all the way to Washington, D.C.

In 2025, the actress joined “This Is Us” star Mandy Moore for meetings with lawmakers as part of a lobbying effort to secure funding for fibroids research and other women’s health initiatives.

Speaking during a joint appearance on ABC News Live Prime, Moore reflected on the responsibility she believes comes with their public platforms.

“It's such a no-brainer to be able to use this crazy platform that a job I love has sort of given me,” Moore said, according to PEOPLE.

Lupita Nyong’o Inspires Women To Share Their Journeys

In an Instagram post shared in July 2025, Nyong’o urged women to speak openly about their experiences with fibroids, arguing that silence has helped normalize female suffering.

 “We must reject the normalization of female pain,” she wrote. “No more suffering in silence!”

Her message appears to have resonated across social media.

Under a YouTube clip of Nyong’o’s TODAY appearance, one user shared their own painful experience with the condition.

“I had fibroids, and they really disrupted my life,” the commenter wrote. “Mine were the size of an orange. Dealing with the pain for over 10 years, I ultimately opted to go with surgery. I've had surgery twice so far.”