Why Lupita Nyong’o Felt “Shame” Amid Fibroids Diagnosis

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Lupita Nyong’o is taking on a new role.

The Academy Award-winning actress is dedicated to raising awareness about women’s health, particularly uterine fibroids – non-cancerous growths in the uterus. She’s been honest about her own challenges, but speaking out hasn’t been simple.

Lupita recently told Today that she felt ashamed and wondered what she had done to deserve the health issues she was facing. She also described feeling very isolated and frightened about her reproductive health.

The actress, now 42, revealed in July that she was diagnosed with a health condition in 2014. This happened during a busy time, as she was gaining recognition for her work in the film 12 Years a Slave.

She shared that she received an Academy Award, but was also diagnosed with fibroids in the same year. It was a period of extreme highs and lows happening simultaneously.

Lupita was shocked to be dealing with health problems and surprised that doctors couldn’t explain why she developed fibroids. She was told her only choices were to have surgery—which might not even be a permanent fix—or simply live with the pain.

Lupita shared that after twelve years, she’s developed fibroids again—this time, twice as many as before. Unfortunately, she’s still facing the same limited choices for treatment: surgery or managing the pain.

The actress was upset to discover that many women are advised to have hysterectomies—surgical removal of their reproductive organs—and felt that this option is too drastic.

Lupita, founder of the Make Fibroids Count campaign which began on February 25th to support fibroids research, is urging women to seek a second medical opinion and consider all options before agreeing to a hysterectomy.

Sharing her diagnosis hasn’t been easy, but she’s discovered it’s been very rewarding. It’s helping to make sure fibroids are taken seriously and aren’t dismissed as just a common problem.

Lupita explained that voicing her experiences was incredibly empowering. The overwhelming support she received – especially hearing other women share similar stories and say ‘Me too’ – made her feel connected and less isolated. This support has genuinely given her the strength to continue her work.

Since publicly sharing her health diagnosis last year, the actress known for her role in Black Panther has been collaborating with U.S. congresswomen on new legislation. This package of bills aims to boost funding for research, improve early diagnosis and treatment of uterine fibroids, investigate the causes of uterine cancer, and raise public awareness about these issues.

Okay, seriously, she gets it! I was scrolling through Instagram and she posted about how we need to start talking about uterine fibroids – like, really talking about them. She wants to educate young people, find better ways to detect them early, and fund serious research to prevent them. And the best part? She wants treatments that aren’t so invasive! It’s like, finally, someone understands this is a huge problem that nobody’s really paid attention to, and she’s calling for a full-on, comprehensive study of women’s health. I’m completely obsessed with her advocacy – it’s amazing!

Lupita added, “We deserve better. It’s time to demand it. Silence serves no one!”

For more stars who have been open about their own health struggles, keep reading. 

Former Total Bellas star Nikki Bella shared that one of her breast implants moved after being hit in the chest by Piper Niven during a wrestling match in July 2025.

She reassured her sister, Bella Garcia, that they would get the issue resolved eventually. She explained to the doctor that as soon as she finished her current commitment, she’d return to address the problem and ensure everything looked its best, because she planned to use them again and they needed to be in good condition.

Lupita Nyong’o, known for her role in 12 Years a Slave, received a diagnosis of uterine fibroids – non-cancerous growths in or around the uterus – in 2014, the same year she won an Academy Award for her acting.

She didn’t reveal her diagnosis until 2025, sharing on Instagram that she had been privately struggling with it for over ten years.

She explained that growing up, many of us are taught to expect periods to be painful, and to accept that pain as a normal part of womanhood. This often leaves us dealing with a common issue in isolation.

 

In July 2025, the actress from Daisy Jones & The Six revealed she’d been hospitalized for a hernia. This happened because she’d been wearing pants that were too tight, which caused a gap to form in her abdominal muscles.

Someone messaged Suki on X (formerly Twitter) saying, “You haven’t tweeted in a while!” Suki replied with a surprising explanation: she’d been hiding a hernia caused by wearing extremely tight pants six months ago and was afraid to mention it.

The former star of Beverly Hills, 90210 shared in April 2025 that he was recovering from surgery because his appendix was close to rupturing.

Brian shared in an Instagram video that he recently experienced stomach pain which led him to the emergency room. He explained that his appendix had a hole in it – it hadn’t fully burst, but was very close to doing so.

He added, “I’m on the road to recovery. It’s not an easy process. This is my first major surgery.”

During a soccer game against Seattle Reign on September 14th at Lumen Field in Seattle, a midfielder from Racing Louisville collapsed after only a few minutes of play.

According to Reuters, the U.S. Women’s National Team player was seen slowly sitting down on the field with a teammate supporting her, before suddenly collapsing. Trainers were immediately called to assess her condition.

After receiving immediate medical attention on the field, Savannah was taken to a nearby hospital for more tests, according to a statement from the National Women’s Soccer League. They reported that she is currently in stable condition and is alert.

Adam Devine revealed that injuries from being hit by a cement truck as a child continue to cause him problems even now.

“It’s been incredibly difficult,” Devine shared on the In Depth With Graham Bensinger podcast in 2025. “I’ve been experiencing spasms all over my body, and doctors recently told me I was facing a life-threatening situation—I was told I could die within the last year.”

He acknowledged that his pain is intermittent, explaining that his body has some minor imperfections and doesn’t always function as expected.

A former contestant on The Bachelor recently went to the hospital because of severe back pain. He described having to crawl on his hands and knees due to the pain, which got worse during a road trip with a friend.

He described a lingering tingling sensation in his knees and toes during a March 2025 episode of his podcast, Trading Secrets. He explained that just a few weeks or a month prior, he was able to squat 295 pounds, but now he can’t even do a squat, struggles with one-legged squats, and often falls. He compared the feeling to having a stroke.

But with the help of a back specialist and some steroids, he added, “We’re on the mend.”

Gina Kirschenheiter, from The Real Housewives of Orange County, revealed that her ex-husband, Matt Kirschenheiter, had a heart attack in March 2025, but he is now recovering.

In March 2025, the actor from 30 Rock experienced a medical issue at a New York Knicks game and had to be taken out of Madison Square Garden in a wheelchair.

The comedian later posted on social media to explain that he hadn’t been feeling well due to food poisoning, but was now recovering.

In February 2025, the former Even Stevens star revealed she was shot in the face during a birthday outing with her husband, Brendan Rooney. They were on a trip to go clay pigeon shooting when the incident occurred.

According to her Instagram post, she was accidentally shot in the face by someone at a party who fired a gun unsafely. She said @thebrendanrooney quickly helped her and took her to the hospital. She was hit five times, and one bullet narrowly missed her right eye, coming within an inch of hitting her directly.

The former Kim Possible star shared that a small piece of something got stuck behind their eye. Doctors have advised against removing it with surgery right now, and they’ll be keeping a close watch on the situation, but thankfully their vision is currently normal.

The actress expressed immense gratitude for surviving a frightening experience. She shared how much she cherishes her daughters, husband, family, and friends, explaining that she realized how precious life is. She urged everyone to hug their loved ones often, because things can change in a moment’s notice.

Amy Schumer is grateful for the internet, even though it can be harsh, because it helped her figure out what was wrong with her health. After noticing she looked “puffier,” she started receiving criticism online. Surprisingly, doctors began commenting, expressing concern that she might have Cushing syndrome, a condition often linked to high cortisol levels or steroid injections. This led Amy to realize she had been getting steroid injections after a breast reduction and C-section. She credits the online attention with leading to her diagnosis. In a recent newsletter, Amy shared her relief that her form of Cushing syndrome is temporary and she is healthy, calling it the best news she could have received.

In December 2024, an AHL player suffered a skate cut during a game and needed 25 stitches to close the wound. After his son made a full recovery, New Jersey Devils General Manager Tom Fitzgerald shared with ESPN how relieved they were, saying, “We feel very lucky, and I wouldn’t want any parent to go through that.”

In March 2022, Hailey Bieber experienced a frightening health scare while having breakfast with her husband, Justin Bieber. She suddenly developed stroke-like symptoms, initially unable to respond when Justin asked if she was alright. She then found she couldn’t speak and the right side of her face began to droop.

Although her speech and facial movement eventually returned, Hailey went to the hospital where tests revealed she’d had a small blood clot in her brain, diagnosed as a TIA (Transient Ischemic Attack).

Further testing at UCLA uncovered a hole in her heart called a patent foramen ovale (PFO). Doctors determined the blood clot had traveled to her brain through this hole, causing the TIA. Hailey has since undergone a successful procedure to close the PFO and is now feeling well.

The same year Hailey faced a health issue, Justin also experienced one. In June 2022, he revealed he had been diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome, which caused temporary paralysis on one side of his face. This forced him to cancel the rest of his Justice World Tour.

In a video posted to Instagram, Justin explained the condition affected the nerves in his ear and face, preventing him from blinking, smiling, or moving his nostril on the affected side. He also shared that it was becoming increasingly difficult for him to eat.

Fortunately, the paralysis eventually went away. Hailey shared on Good Morning America that Justin was recovering well and feeling much better, adding that it had been a frightening experience, but he was going to be okay.

Jamie Foxx initially kept the reasons for his April 2023 hospitalization private, but he later shared what happened. He explained that one day in Atlanta, he had a severe headache and asked for aspirin. Before he could take it, he lost consciousness and doesn’t remember the next twenty days.

Initially, a doctor gave him a cortisone shot and sent him home. However, his sister, Deidra Dixon, was worried and took him to the hospital, where doctors discovered he had a brain bleed that caused a stroke.

After surgery, twenty days later, on May 4th, Jamie woke up in a wheelchair unable to walk. He then went to Chicago for rehabilitation and therapy. He expressed his gratitude for all the prayers he received, saying he needed every single one.

The reality TV star shared that she briefly stopped breathing while running a mile during the first challenge on the NBC show.

She shared on the show Fit for TV: The Reality of The Biggest Loser that her memory of the event was fragmented. She recalled hearing a helicopter, feeling like she was floating, and then seeing her grandfather before everything went dark. Afterward, she experienced a bright light, which led her to realize she had died that day.

She explained that her organs were failing. She hadn’t known she had rhabdomyolysis, a condition where the body essentially starts to shut down.

Emilia Clarke, known for her role in Game of Thrones, revealed a harrowing health battle in a 2019 essay for The New Yorker. While filming the show, she experienced a sudden, severe headache while at the gym. She described collapsing and being violently ill, realizing something was seriously wrong with her brain.

A hospital scan quickly revealed a subarachnoid hemorrhage – a life-threatening stroke caused by bleeding around the brain. She had suffered an aneurysm, a rupture in an artery. Immediate surgery was performed to repair it, but the pain was excruciating. During her recovery, she temporarily lost her ability to speak, often muttering incoherently.

Though she recovered and was discharged after a month, a 2013 scan revealed the aneurysm had doubled in size, requiring a second surgery. This procedure initially failed, causing a massive bleed and putting her life at risk. Doctors had to perform a more invasive surgery, accessing her brain directly through her skull.

Fortunately, Emilia is now fully recovered and says she is “at a hundred per cent.”

Cori Broadus, Snoop Dogg’s daughter, recently shared her gratitude for her family’s support after she suffered a stroke in January 2024. She told TopMob News that she immediately texted her family with a picture, and they quickly came to her aid. While she could have been discharged after the stroke, other health issues kept her hospitalized longer than expected. She explained that she was also dealing with lupus and kidney problems. Thankfully, Cori is now recovering well. She says she’s regained most of her motor skills and is doing great.

Shailene Woodley struggled with significant health issues throughout her early twenties. In a September 2024 podcast interview, she revealed she experienced hearing loss, extreme fatigue – unable to walk for more than five minutes without needing hours of rest – and persistent stomach pain. She described a confusing process of receiving conflicting diagnoses from various doctors.

Determined to find answers, Woodley, who prefers to keep her specific condition private, combined traditional medical care with holistic and herbal remedies. This search for well-being spanned a decade.

She explained that the physical discomfort led to deeper issues, including fear of food and struggles with body image, identity, and feeling comfortable in her own body.

Fortunately, after years of addressing both her physical and mental health, Woodley is now feeling much better and considers herself very healthy. She expressed gratitude for her recovery.

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2026-02-25 23:48