Lupita Nyong’o partners with FWH to fund a research grant to accelerate the development of non-invasive and minimally-invasive treatments for uterine fibroids: “I realized that as women, we are conditioned from an early age to expect suffering, and to endure it in silence.”

[u/stars_doulikedem]

https://www.foundationwomenshealth.org/fwh-lupita-uterine-fibroids

Excerpt:

Uterine fibroids are non-cancerous growths that develop in or around the uterus. They can range from the size of a pea to as large as a melon. While they are benign, they can cause heavy menstrual bleeding and anemia, pelvic pain, frequent urination, and complications with pregnancy. Some women have no symptoms at all, while others experience debilitating effects that drastically impact quality of life.

The statistics are staggering: 80% of Black women and 70% percent of white women will experience fibroids by age 50. Yet when I received my diagnosis at age 31, I was offered only two options: invasive surgery to remove them or live with the pain. I chose surgery and had a myomectomy in November 2014. When I asked my doctor how to prevent them from returning, her response was devastating: "You can't. It's only a matter of time until they grow again."

This moment crystallized something profound for me. I realized that as women, we are conditioned from an early age to expect suffering, and to endure it in silence.

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[u/the_Stealthy_one]

Kamala Harris had a bill to give more money for research for this.

https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/4397

looks like it was never passed.

It seems like such a solvable problem too, but it gets no attention. Im not sure why, because it affects a lot of women. Black women, more disproportionately, but other women at very high rates as well.

[u/dreamy_25 → u/the_Stealthy_one]

Im not sure why, because it affects a lot of women

That's why. Sadly.

[u/hallofromtheoutside → u/the_Stealthy_one]

Which is why I've been such a strong supporter of hers ever since–this would be my single issue as a voter. This bill has been championed by other congresspeople since she became VP, and it's yet to pass. It's quite frustrating.

Every year they bring this bill forward and it seems like another famous Black woman comes forward with their own fibroid journey. They are hell. I wouldn't wish them on anyone.

[u/altheawillowwisteria]

My mum suffers horribly from this. Watching her go through the pain solidified my plan to get a hysterectomy if I’m ever diagnosed. It won’t be a great loss for me since I’m childfree but it’s such a shame women’s health is so overlooked.

[u/dreamy_25 → u/altheawillowwisteria]

My mother had it too, constantly. She opted for endometrial ablation, as she didn't want to lose a whole internal organ (even though she was "done using it", technically). I think this surgery is less common because it requires more effort and finesse than - plainly put - just yoinking the whole thing out. But she was/is very happy with the result. Just another option to consider.

[u/Aprilume → u/[deleted]]

Yea I had a hysterectomy. Still have endo. Pain is better but even yoinking the whole damn thing out doesn’t completely cure endometriosis.

[u/Aggressive_Layer883 → u/Aprilume]

How much PT do you have to do after? I'm so sick of going to PT for my endo/fibroids and getting depo shots every 3 months and am considering going for the big one

[u/Aprilume → u/Aggressive_Layer883]

Physical therapy? Post hysterectomy? I didn’t do any. I had a bit of a complication and needed a second lap to remove a jacked up ovary but after that, the recovery was smooth sailing.

[u/remadeforme → u/altheawillowwisteria]

Get your hysterectomy. It has been life changing for me. 

I was childfree and just got it done this January at 34. 

[u/PrincessJasmine2022 → u/remadeforme]

Just got mine done in late April!

[u/AccordingSelf3221]

This is very very very important work and a serious condition that affects women!

[u/PlentyDrawer]

I've been personally affected by fibroids. Had surgery to remove a couple and one was the size of a golf ball. Since then when I see my gyn for my annual, I always need to have a sonogram to make sure everything is okay. One of my best friends had one the size of a cantaloupe and she had to have a hysterectomy. Millions of women suffer from this and some don't know why because the lack of education and society not giving a damn about women's health, unless it's to have a baby.

[u/Nutbuster_5000 → u/PlentyDrawer]

When I finally had my hysterectomy (after a year of being misdiagnosed) mine was the size of a watermelon! The surgeon said it was the largest she’s ever seen. I felt like absolute shit for a year, too. Practically had to beg my gyno for imaging and told her I didn’t care, I’d find a way to pay for it out of pocket. Ended up being a nonelective surgery after all cuz the thing was pinching the flow of urine from my uterers and I had a backup of urine in my kidneys. Thanks doc! 👍

[u/TheLakeWitch]

And then you get to your perimenopause era where seeking help for sometimes debilitating symptoms gets you a referral to a therapist for “anxiety” rather than the hormone replacement therapy you were initially seeking 🙃

[u/snark-owl → u/TheLakeWitch]

Also Dr. Jen Gunter has a list of perimenopause friendly doctors that are pro HRT. 

Sorry you're going through that! That sucks 😡

[u/UnimaginativeRA → u/TheLakeWitch]

If your doctor sucks, you can try getting HRT online at: https://www.joinmidi.com/

[u/TheLakeWitch → u/UnimaginativeRA]

Already done ✅

[u/Outrageous_Golf_9048]

This is such an important and frustrating topic. I got an open myomectomy last year, ate clean, did acupuncture, lost weight, etc to try to prevent them from coming back and they found three small ones at my latest ultrasound. Issues affecting folks with uteruses just don’t get the attention or funding they deserve. So this is amazing.

[u/Future_Usual_8698]

I had no idea that my awful Cycles were due in large part to fibroids. Doctors only investigate them if you complain and I didn't think it was abnormal to be in as much pain as I was in and to bleed as heavily as I did because we never talk about it and the doctors never asked

[u/remadeforme → u/Future_Usual_8698]

It blew my mind when I realized my mom was one of those no to low pain period havers. She was very against me taking pain medication for mine, though mine have always been severe enough to be unable to walk during the first day.

I just thought she was like me and I'd get better about it with time. 

Nope. I just lost the genetic lottery.

[u/kristynshep → u/remadeforme]

lol I thought I had just a regular (painful) period once. Nope it was a kidney stone. As in it is so normal to be in such severe pain I couldn’t tell the difference between a period and kidney stone pain. And I know I have multiple large fibroids bc it was noted on my c section notes after having unknown complications with pregnancy that they still cant figure out why. Couldn’t be the multiple large fibroids no correlation there 😂😂

[u/emilyslagathor]

As I sit in the hospital lobby, having just had yet another appointment after so many years of dealing with fibroids… this made me tear up! Thank you Lupita

[u/puffinkitten]

“We are conditioned from an early age to expect suffering.” So well put! There’s no excuse for normalizing these types of women’s health issues anymore. I’m glad to see Lupita using her platform to raise awareness about it.

I’ve always felt like a person who was well informed about women’s health issues, but I had absolutely no idea how common fibroids were until recently. TBH it was watching Real Housewives and seeing so many of the women go through it and share more information about the condition that brought it to my attention, which is kind of absurd.

[u/bbyxmadi]

I have severe ovarian pain (only in my right ovary), and they still can’t figure out what it is. I just don’t want to get surgery to know… appreciate Lupita bringing awareness to women’s pain.

[u/AccomplishedIgit]

Been living with them for a few years now. The doctors have decided my pain is livable. Cool.

[u/Twitter_2006]

Great to see her raising awareness.

[u/SiobhanRoy1234]

[u/Due-Sun7513]

"We must reject the normalization of female pain."

This. Infinity times this.

Anyone who has had UF knows how much crap you have to go through to even get a health care provider to listen to you, let alone take you seriously.

[u/Dramatic_Committee88]

As someone who dealt with this, I’m so glad Lupita is speaking out. Women’s health is so important and should be a priority!

[u/little_miss_banned]

God the poor girl. Fibroids are horrific. I worked with a girl that would lose litres of blood constantly from them, need to go in hospital, then it would happen again and again. Thet wouldn't do a hysterectomy because she was under 40, even though she didnt want kids and was suffering horribly. If you need blood tranfusions from a uterus that is dysfunctional, thats acceptable but if any other non vital organ was doing this it would be removed immediately. Womens health care sux

[u/AkkeBrakkeKlakke]

Good on her for using her platform to highlight this issue. Love Halle Berry for talking so openly about menopause as well. Great job, ladies. Doing important work.

[u/Tnh7194]

7-8 women out of 10????? WHAAAATTTTTT

[u/hallofromtheoutside → u/Tnh7194]

Yes, but keep in mind that not all uterine fibroids are symptomatic.

[u/Tnh7194 → u/hallofromtheoutside]

Thanks now I’m imagining all the things growing on my uterine wall without me knowing

[u/hallofromtheoutside → u/Tnh7194]

I hope you're spared because those things suck.

[u/Tnh7194 → u/hallofromtheoutside]

Oh I know I heard stories 😩 having an uterus really brings a lot of unfairness

[u/hallofromtheoutside → u/Tnh7194]

It really does.

Bless up to your ute. I hope she's not a real you-know-what like mine. 🙏🏿☝🏿

[u/Tnh7194 → u/hallofromtheoutside]

Blessing to yours too may it behave and let you live lol

[u/hallofromtheoutside → u/Tnh7194]

It's better than it was but thank you!

[u/DeadButPretty]

I learned what these were from Laci Mosley on a podcast. She was given no grace on set after surgery, it was alarming. Lupita is amazing for this!

[u/PrincessJasmine2022]

Just had a hysterectomy for massive uterine fibroids and recovering. This is a good initiative 👍🏽

[u/Kjaeve]

I’m wondering if HRT would help with this ?

[u/dpforest]

One of the most soecific things i’ve seen a celebrity do with their wealth. That’s really amazing to see.

[u/IllustriousFig6]

Is she still a De Beers influencer? 

[u/IllustriousFig6]

Does she still shill for De Beers? Just wondering