Actress Lupita Nyong'o shares her struggles with fibroid tumors in the uterus
Actress Lupita Nyong'o, known for her roles in blockbuster films like "Black Panther" and "Us", has taken on a new role as an advocate for uterine fibroid research and awareness. During Fibroid Awareness Month, Nyong'o's efforts and initiatives to improve understanding, education, and treatment of fibroids have gained significant attention.
Nyong'o has bravely shared her personal experience with uterine fibroids, having undergone surgery in 2014 to remove 30 fibroids. By revealing her struggle, she aims to break the silence and stigma surrounding fibroids, a condition that affects 80% of Black women and 70% of white women by the age of 50.
The actress emphasises the normalisation of pain related to menstruation and the importance of increasing public awareness and education about fibroids and their symptoms. This education can help women seek treatment earlier, potentially alleviating their suffering.
To support research, Nyong'o has partnered with the Foundation for Women’s Health to launch a uterine fibroid research grant. This grant focuses on accelerating the development of non-invasive and minimally invasive treatments for fibroids, with the aim of providing better care and improving health outcomes for affected women.
Nyong'o has also collaborated with congressional lawmakers to introduce bills aimed at increasing federal funding for fibroid research. These legislative efforts seek to expand scientific understanding, improve detection methods, and widen access to effective treatments.
One of the bills introduced with Nyong'o’s involvement aims to boost research funding specifically for uterine fibroids, signalling a policy-level commitment to addressing this health disparity that disproportionately affects Black women. These initiatives also aim to facilitate broader public education campaigns, increase early diagnosis, and reduce the stigma and misinformation surrounding fibroids.
Nyong'o's advocacy includes a focus on less invasive fibroid treatments. In addition to her research grant, she is funding a research fellowship with the Foundation for Women's Health to develop these less invasive treatments.
Together, Nyong'o's advocacy and the efforts of legislative champions are fostering greater awareness, securing new research funding, and pushing for improved healthcare policies to address uterine fibroids comprehensively. Nyong'o's involvement notably amplifies the urgency of the issue and inspires broader societal and institutional action.
Lupita Nyong'o's advocacy expands to the realm of science and medical-conditions, specifically uterine fibroids, as she actively supports research and raises awareness for this health-and-wellness issue that significantly affects women. In line with her initiatives, she partners with the Foundation for Women’s Health to launch a grant focusing on non-invasive and minimally invasive treatments for fibroids, particularly in women's-health.
