Uterine fibroid symptoms to watch for as Lupita Nyong’o opens up about diagnosis 'shame'

Hollywood A-lister Lupita Nyong’o has candidly opened up about the 'shame' she felt after her uterine fibroids diagnosis.

The 43-year-old Black Panther star sat down to discuss her health struggles on ABC News Live Prime earlier this week on Monday (23 March) after having previously shared with fans that she's had as many as 77 uterine fibroids over the years, 50 of which are still growing inside of her.

Nyong’o, who has recently launched the Make Fibroids Count campaign with the Foundation for Women's Health, is using her platform to raise awareness and fund research on minimally-invasive and non-invasive treatments for uterine fibroids.

But what are uterine fibroids and what are the symptoms that we should know about?

Lupita Nyong'o has candidly opened up about her struggles with uterine fibroids (Bruce Glikas / Contributor / Getty Images)

What are uterine fibroids?

The Mayo Clinic explains that uterine fibroids are common growths of the uterus.

According to the experts, they often appear 'during the years you're usually able to get pregnant and give birth'.

It's important to that that uterine fibroids are not cancer, and 'they almost never turn into cancer'.

Uterine fibroids are common growths of the uterus and can lead to heavy menstrual bleeding and painful periods (Getty Stock Images)

What causes uterine fibroids?

While the exact cause of uterine fibroids isn't clear, the Mayo Clinic says that these factors may play roles:

• Gene changes. Many fibroids contain changes in genes that differ from those in typical uterine muscle cells.
• Hormones. Two hormones called estrogen and progesterone cause the tissue that lines the inside of the uterus to thicken during each menstrual cycle to prepare for pregnancy. These hormones also seem to help fibroids grow.
• Fibroids contain more cells that estrogen and progesterone bind to than do typical uterine muscle cells. Fibroids tend to shrink after menopause due to a drop in hormone levels.
• Other growth factors. Substances that help the body maintain tissues, such as insulin-like growth factor, may affect fibroid growth.
• Extracellular matrix (ECM). This material makes cells stick together, like mortar between bricks. ECM is increased in fibroids and makes them fibrous. ECM also stores growth factors and causes biologic changes in the cells themselves.

The Mayo Clinic outlines: "Doctors believe that uterine fibroids may develop from a stem cell in the smooth muscular tissue of the uterus. A single cell divides over and over. In time it turns into a firm, rubbery mass distinct from nearby tissue."

Additionally, the health experts note that the growth patterns of uterine fibroids vary.

"They may grow slowly or fast. Or they might stay the same size. Some fibroids go through growth spurts, and some shrink on their own," the clinic adds.

The exact cause of uterine fibroids isn't clear (Getty Stock Images)

Signs of uterine fibroids

Many people who have uterine fibroids don't have any symptoms but, for those who do, symptoms can be 'influenced by the location, size and number of fibroids'.

The most common symptoms of uterine fibroids include:

• Heavy menstrual bleeding or painful periods
• Longer or more frequent periods
• Pelvic pressure or pain
• Frequent urination or trouble urinating
• Growing stomach area
• Constipation
• Pain in the stomach area or lower back, or pain during sex

While it's rare, a fibroid can also cause a sudden, serious pain when it outgrows its blood supply and starts to die.

The Oscar-winner bravely opened up about the 'shame' surrounding her diagnosis (ABC News)

Lupita Nyong'o's 'shame' around fibroid diagnosis

During the ABC interview, the Us star candidly discussed her experiences dealing with fibroids.

Anchor Linsey Davis asked Nyong’o a little more about the physical toll of the condition, but also gave her the space to open up about how her mental health was impacted.

"Many women — I’m one of them included — described this as suffering in silence," Davis, who has also endured years of health issues related to fibroids, said. "I’m curious what that silent time looked like for you."

Nyong’o responded: "It looked like shame.

"In the beginning I thought, what did I do wrong? What didn’t I do? How did I not protect my body? How did I not serve my body that it has betrayed me in this way? I was hiding in plain sight."

The A Quiet Place: Day One actress added that the fibroids were also impacting her ability to work as she recalled 'putting on a brave face' for public events and red carpets.

"In my private moments, I was dealing with heavy periods and severe clotting. At one point, I had a period for over 30 days. I was pre-aenemic and experiencing fatigue," she added. "I think as women, we are conditioned from when we’re in our adolescent years to expect pain, to expect discomfort.

"And we’re not taught how to observe our bodies."

You can find out more about uterine fibroids on the official NHS website.

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