Lupita Nyong’o Joins US Lawmakers to Push for Uterine Fibroid Health Legislation

Oscar-winning actress Lupita Nyong’o has become a prominent voice in public health advocacy, spearheading a campaign for heightened awareness, research funding, and policy changes regarding uterine fibroids, a common yet often neglected condition affecting millions of women globally. 

Nyong’o publicly disclosed her personal experience with uterine fibroids on 15 July, coinciding with Fibroid Awareness Month. Revealing a diagnosis dating back to 2014, the same year she received an Academy Award, she detailed undergoing 30 surgeries over the past decade to manage the condition, describing it as both physically and emotionally challenging. Her decision to share her story serves as a call to galvanise public dialogue and advocate for institutional reform.

Uterine fibroids are non-cancerous tumours that develop within or around the uterus, most commonly during reproductive years. While their precise cause remains undetermined, research indicates a high prevalence. Studies reveal that over 70 percent of white women and up to 80 percent of Black women in the United States develop fibroids before the age of 50. Symptoms can vary significantly, ranging from heavy menstrual bleeding and pelvic pain to infertility and bladder dysfunction. 

A significant number of cases remain asymptomatic and undiagnosed. Despite this widespread impact, uterine fibroids have historically received inadequate attention in mainstream medical discourse and public health strategies. Nyong’o's activism has moved beyond personal narrative to encompass policy advocacy. She joined forces with several lawmakers in Washington, D.C., to introduce a legislative package designed to transform the approach to uterine fibroids at both clinical and societal levels. 

Supporting the initiative are Congresswomen Shontel Brown, Yvette D. Clarke, Bonnie Watson Coleman, and Robin Kelly, along with Senators Angela Alsobrooks and Lisa Blunt Rochester. This collaborative effort aims to secure the passage of several bills, including the Uterine Fibroid Intervention and Gynecological Health and Treatment (U-FIGHT) Act.

The proposed legislation seeks to increase funding for fibroid research, promote the development of early diagnostic protocols, support studies into the underlying causes of uterine cancers, and establish nationwide public education campaigns. Nyong’o has described the initiative as a crucial intervention to "stop treating this massive issue like a series of unfortunate coincidences" and to "reject the normalisation of female pain." 

Complementing these legislative endeavours, Nyong’o has partnered with the Foundation for Women’s Health (FWH) to launch a targeted research grant. The FWH x Lupita Nyong’o Uterine Fibroid Research Grant will fund the development of minimally invasive and non-invasive treatment options, with a focus on symptom management and long-term wellbeing. 

Considering that conventional treatments often involve hormonal therapies or major surgery, such as hysterectomy, the initiative signals a move toward improving quality of life and preserving fertility options for patients. Nyong’o joins a growing cohort of high-profile figures advocating for gender-specific healthcare reform, an area historically overshadowed by generalised medical practices and gender biases in research funding allocation.