In a candid interview on the Today show, the star reflected on how 2014 — the year she won the Academy Award for her role in 12 Years a Slave — marked both a professional milestone and the beginning of a personal health crisis. While celebrating global acclaim, she was simultaneously grappling with severe pelvic pain and heavy bleeding that led to surgery and a diagnosis of uterine fibroids.
Doctors at the time cautioned that the noncancerous growths could return. Now, twelve years later, Nyong’o has confirmed that they have — and in greater number. She disclosed that she currently has “double the amount of fibroids” compared to her initial diagnosis.
Frustration Over Limited Treatment Options
Nyong’o expressed disappointment over what she described as limited progress in treatment options for women’s reproductive health. According to the actress, the choices presented to her today remain largely the same as they were in 2014: undergo major surgery or manage ongoing chronic pain.
She urged women experiencing similar symptoms to seek multiple medical opinions and cautioned against viewing hysterectomy as an automatic first-line solution.
Launch of “Make Fibroids Count” Campaign
Determined to address stigma and spark broader dialogue, Nyong’o has launched the “Make Fibroids Count” campaign. The initiative aims to increase funding for research into less invasive treatments and to create space for women to share their experiences openly.
Highlighting the emotional toll of silence surrounding reproductive health, Nyong’o referenced the common medical comparison of fibroid sizes to fruit. She revealed that her largest fibroid measured the size of an orange — an analogy she said resonated with many women and helped them feel less isolated.
Medical research suggests that up to 80 percent of women may develop fibroids by age 50, yet the condition is often dismissed as something to simply endure. Nyong’o argues that such normalization has contributed to underinvestment in research and inadequate treatment innovation.
Balancing Advocacy and Career
Despite her ongoing health challenges, Nyong’o remains active professionally. She is set to appear in The Odyssey, an upcoming film directed by Christopher Nolan, scheduled for release this summer.
The actress said that the overwhelming “me too” response she received after sharing her story publicly has reinforced her commitment to advocacy, transforming her personal health struggle into a broader campaign for awareness, research, and systemic change in women’s healthcare.