Oscar-winning actress Lupita Amondi Nyong’o has opened up about her current battle with uterine fibroids, which have increased following past surgical removals.

Nyong’o, who spoke during an exclusive interview with Today, said she wants to see advancement in fibroid treatment for women worldwide.

She said, “Back in 2014, I won an Academy Award, and in that same year, I was diagnosed with fibroids, and I was experiencing this high, high and low, low at exactly the same time. I had heavy bleeding, and I had pelvic pain, among other symptoms.”

“I asked my doctor what caused them, and he didn’t really have an answer. I asked what I could do to treat them, and all I was offered was surgery or to live with the pain. I chose the surgery at the time.”

The fibroids were successfully removed through a fibroid-removal procedure called a myomectomy, and at the time, she had about 30 in her system.

Twelve years after her first diagnosis, she has more than 50 uterine fibroids, causing severe pain and requiring intensive treatment. She has decided she is not ready to undergo another myomectomy, noting that the procedure is quite ‘invasive and poses a large threat to women’s reproductive organs.’

She explained that gynaecologists often use fruit to describe the size of fibroids to help patients understand the intensity of their condition.

Using a photo of fruits to campaign for better fibroid treatment, the actress said, “Doctors usually use fruit to help a woman understand the size of her fibroid. Mine, the largest, was the size of an orange,” adding that the illustration was used as “a provocative way to get women to lay their burdens down and share their stories.”

According to her, her current battle made her feel isolated and scared for her reproductive health and well-being as she wondered why it had happened to her.

She advised other women, saying, “The first thing I’d say is seek a second opinion, and don’t accept hysterectomy as the first resort. If a majority of the women are going through this, surely we should have more options.”