Actress Lupita Nyong'o reveals she had 30 uterine fibroids removed after her history-making Oscar win

Oscar-winning actress Lupita Nyong'o has revealed she was diagnosed with uterine fibroids soon after winning her history-making best supporting actress Oscar in 2014.

The actress, who was recently in a relationship with Joshua Jackson, was born in Mexico to Kenyan parents, and was riding a career high in 2014, having just won an Oscar for her role in 12 Years a Slave.

But now she has revealed in an Instagram post that she was diagnosed with uterine fibroids soon after and underwent surgery to remove 30 of the non-cancerous growths.

READ MORE: Bono lived on airplane leftovers after mother died when he was 14

The lengthy post began with a series of slides.

"In March 2014 I won an Academy Award," she began.

"That same year I discovered I had uterine fibroids – 30 fibroids. I had surgery to remove them.

"I asked my doctor if I could do anything to prevent them from recurring. She said, 'You can't. It's only a matter of time until they grow again'."

Nyong'o, who is known for her activism on a range of subjects, went on to explain that uterine fibroids were non-cancerous growths that could range in size from a pea to a melon.

READ MORE: Pete Davidson expecting his first child with model girlfriend

"They can cause heavy menstrual bleeding and anaemia, pelvic pain, frequent urination and complications with pregnancy."

She said while some sufferers had no symptoms, others found them 'debilitating'.

"Eight out of 10 black women and seven out of 10 white women will experience fibroids. Yet we speak so little of them." 

Nyong'o said women were conditioned from the start of puberty that "periods mean pain and that pain is simply part of being a woman".

She said she decided to share her condition during Fibroid Awareness Month.

For a daily dose of 9honey, subscribe to our newsletter here.

"We're struggling alone with something that affects most of us. No more suffering in silence."

She called for early education for teenagers, better screening protocols and more research to find less invasive treatments for fibroids.

The actress, who was part of the famous "Oscar selfie" the year she won her gong, also revealed she had travelled to Washington DC to support the introduction of a package of bills in the US Congress, and she would soon launch the Lupita Nyong'o Uterine Fibroid Research Grant in partnership with Foundation for Women's Health.

FOLLOW US ON WHATSAPP HERE: Stay across all the latest in celebrity, lifestyle and opinion via our WhatsApp channel. No comments, no algorithm and nobody can see your private details. 

from Celebrity entertainment news, gossip and photos on 9Honey Celebrity https://ift.tt/vHfK9e6