Oscar-winning Kenyan actress Lupita Nyong’o
Oscar-winning Kenyan actress Lupita Nyong’o has revealed that her fibroids have returned, and in greater numbers.
Speaking on ‘Today’ on February 25, 2026, the 42-year-old Hollywood star opened up about living with the painful condition.
Nyong’o said she first discovered she had fibroids in 2014, the same year she won an Academy Award for ‘12 Years a Slave’.
“The first time I got the fibroids taken out, they took out 23,” she said. “And this time, I’ve been informed two years ago that I have over 50.”
She explained that she is once again faced with the difficult choice between surgery and living with the pain.
“I’m not ready to make that decision,” she shared. “It’s quite invasive, and it’s a big threat to our reproductive organs.”
Describing the size of her largest fibroid, Nyong’o noted:
“Doctors usually use fruit to explain the size. My biggest fibroid is the size of an orange.”
The actress admitted that the diagnosis initially left her feeling isolated and ashamed.
“I felt shame. What did I do to cause them? I felt very alone and quite scared for my reproductive health,” she said.
However, she said speaking out has changed her perspective.
“I’m excited right now because speaking up has really empowered me. I’ve found community. I’ve locked arms with women who have been fighting this fight for a long time. There’s a lot of power in speaking up,” she added.
Lupita is currently advocating for less invasive treatments and greater awareness.
“I think it’s high time we speak up to ensure that this is no longer trivialized and no longer considered normal just because it’s common,” she emphasized.
