Los Angeles, Feb 26 (IANS) Hollywood actress Lupita Nyong'o has opened up about her "over 50" uterine fibroids. The 42-year-old actress was first diagnosed with the condition, which sees non-cancerous growths developing in or around the uterus and can cause symptoms including long and heavy periods, and pain in the pelvis, back, and leg, 11 years ago.

She admitted things are worse this time around, with few treatment options available, reports ‘Female First UK’.

Speaking on Today, she said, “The first time I got the fibroids taken out, they took out 23. And this time, I’ve been informed two years ago that I have over 50. And I’m being faced with the same options. Surgery or live with the pain”.

The actress is "not ready" to decide whether to have the fibroids surgically removed because of the "big threat" to any future family plans.

She said, “I’m not ready to make that decision. It’s quite invasive… and it’s a big threat to our reproductive organs”.

As per ‘Female First UK’, not only does she have dozens of fibroids, some of them are very large. Lupita said, “When you have fibroids, doctors usually use fruit to explain to you what size your fibroids are. So your fibroid could be the size of a grape. My biggest fibroid is the size of an orange”.

The ‘12 Years a Slave’ actress recalled feeling "shame" and fear when she was first diagnosed with fibroids, but she's found "community" since opening up about her condition.

She said, “I felt shame. What did I do to cause them? And I felt very alone and quite scared for my reproductive health. I’m excited right now because speaking up has really empowered me. I’ve found a community”.

“I’ve locked arms with women who have been fighting this fight for a long time. There’s a lot of power in speaking up. I spoke up and the amount of support I got hearing women say ‘me too’ and share their stories made me feel less alone and it’s honestly what has bolstered me to do the work that I do now”, she added.

--IANS

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