Lupita Nyong’o Reveals 50+ Fibroids Have Returned Years After 23 Were Removed: “Surgery or Live With the Pain” [Video]

Lupita Nyong’o is once again speaking candidly about her health, revealing that her uterine fibroids have returned in significant numbers.

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The 42-year-old actress shared the update during an appearance on the Today show on Wednesday, February 25. Nyong’o said doctors recently informed her that she now has more than 50 fibroids, with the largest measuring the size of an orange.

Nyong’o was first diagnosed with fibroids in 2014, the same year she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in 12 Years of Slave. At the time, she underwent surgery to remove 23 growths.

“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.”

“And I’m being faced with the same options,” she added. “Surgery or live with the pain.”

Fibroids are noncancerous tumors that develop in or around the uterus. They can cause heavy menstrual bleeding, extended periods, pelvic pressure, frequent urination, constipation, and pain in the back and legs. Nyong’o explained that doctors often compare fibroid size to fruit to help patients understand their condition.

“When you have fibroids, doctors usually use fruit to explain to you what size your fibroids are,” she said. “So your fibroid could be the size of a grape. My biggest fibroid is the size of an orange.”

The actress said she has not yet decided whether to undergo another myomectomy, a procedure that removes fibroids while preserving the uterus. “I’m not ready to make that decision,” she shared. “It’s quite invasive… and it’s a big threat to our reproductive organs.”

Nyong’o also reflected on the emotional toll of the diagnosis. “I felt shame. What did I do to cause them? And I felt very alone and quite scared for my reproductive health,” she said.

Now, she says, speaking publicly has shifted her experience. “I’m excited right now because speaking up has really empowered me,” she said. “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. “I spoke up, and the amount of support I got hearing women say ‘me too’ and share their stories made me feel less alone, and it’s honestly what has bolstered me to do the work that I do now.”

Nyong’o is currently advocating for more funding and research into less invasive and noninvasive treatment options. “I think it’s high time we speak up to ensure that this is no longer trivialized and it’s no longer considered normal just because it’s common,” she said.