It is a widely known that up to 80% of women develop fibroids by the time they reach 50. When we say these women come from all walks of life, it’s true. One might be a doctor quietly battling discomfort between patients and her daily podcast. One could be a working woman whose fibroid journey has forced her to rearrange her job around heavy bleeding and constant fatigue. Others are teachers, entrepreneurs, women approaching menopause, and women who are told they need a hysterectomy for fibroid removal, shattering their dream of having a baby. Simply put, fibroids don’t discriminate. In fact, celebrities ranging from Oscar-winning actresses and high-profile singers to famous athletes, reality TV stars, and more are far from immune.
The good news is that an increasing number of these women are sharing their fibroid journeys. The purpose is to stop treating this common yet under-discussed and under-funded issue like a normal part of being a woman or a series of unfortunate coincidences. Celebrities, such as movie star Lupita Nyong’o and Grand-Slam tennis champion Venus Williams, are going public with their fibroid removal stories. These women are actively using their platform to encourage open conversations between doctors and their patients, advocating for improved research and change on a global stage.
The bottom line is that you are not alone. Whether you’re managing fibroid symptoms in silence or seeking answers for the first time, your experience is real, and you deserve to be heard, supported, and offered real solutions.
An Increasing Number of Celebrities Share Their Fibroid Removal Journey
Fibroid Institute Texas was at the forefront of legislation in 2021 that made Texas one of 10 states to recognize July as Fibroid Awareness Month. This was a monumental step in the right direction for the roughly 171 million women worldwide who suffered from fibroids yet weren’t aware of what fibroids are and all treatment options that exist.
Fibroids are noncancerous growths of the uterus. While some women don’t experience any symptoms, many do. Sometimes, doctors will discover fibroids during a routine pelvic or pregnancy exam and may take a wait-and-see approach if the patient isn’t in any pain. In other situations, fibroids can get large and may lead to painful, life-altering symptoms. These symptoms can vary widely but typically include the following:
Common Fibroid Symptoms
Heavy menstrual bleeding
Periods that last longer than a week
Anemia, which can lead to fatigue
Abdominal distension or cramping
Pain in abdomen, lower back, or pelvis
Lower back pain
Pain during sex
Frequent urination
Constipation
Even with additional dialogue, improved access to fibroid treatment alternatives and education, and a push for more adequate funding levels, there is still so much work left to be done in terms of advocacy, awareness, and access to care. This is where celebrity voices can fill in the gaps—particularly those who have walked in your shoes. Yes, even famous women are diagnosed with fibroids every day and have the same struggles as everyone else. Their income level, notoriety, and access to care seem to have no bearing on their fibroid challenges.
While there are undoubtedly more celebrities who will stand up in the future, a list of notable women who have gone through their own fibroid journeys includes:
- Actress Lupita Nyong’o
- Tennis star Venus Williams
- Former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
- Entrepreneur and TV personality Bethenny Frankel
- Model and reality TV stars Cynthia Bailey and Porsha Williams
- ABC News correspondent Kyra Phillips
- American singer-songwriter and musician Sara Bareilles
- Singer FKA Twigs
- ABC News anchor Linsey Davis
- Actress, author, and TV host Maria Menounos
- Actress Sharon Stone
- Entertainment Tonight co-host Nischelle Turner
- Beverly Johnson, first Black woman to grace the cover of American Vogue
- Rapper Eve
- Real Housewives of Atlanta star Kenya Moore
- Michigan State Representative Kyra Harris Bolden
- Comedian London Hughes
- Popular internet personality Deiondra Sanders
It should be noted that of these women, most are Black, lending further credence to the statistic that fibroids are more common and severe in Black women compared to women of other racial and ethnic groups.
Lupita Nyong’o: No More Suffering in Silence
Lupita Nyong’o thought 2014 was going to be a fantastic year. In March of that year, she won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her debut film, 12 Years of Slave. By July, she had been diagnosed with fibroids and underwent surgery to remove a staggering 30 fibroids. She was just 31 years old at the time of her diagnosis. At first, the star of future films such as Black Panther, Wild Robot, Us, and Star Wars: The Force Awakens started sharing her experience privately with close family and friends. But it didn’t take her long to realize this was an opportunity to help other women who didn’t have the same platform. She shared on social media that “so many women are going through this. We’re struggling alone with something that affects most of us.”
Lupita Nyong’o on the red carpet at the Big Screen Achievement Awards at the 2024 CinemaCon at The Colosseum Theater at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo credit: Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ. Used with permission under the under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license from Wikimedia.
“In 2014, at the age of 31, I received my uterine fibroid diagnosis and was offered only two options: invasive surgery to remove them or live with the pain,” she said. She added that she asked her doctor whether there was any way to prevent them from growing back and was told that it was only a matter of time before they grow back. “I envision a different future: one with early education for teenagers, better prevention and screening protocols, robust research, and less invasive treatments for uterine fibroids.”
What Nyong’o has done since then is absolutely commendable.
In July 2025, which coincides with Fibroid Awareness Month, she joined several congresswomen and senators in Washington to introduce a package of uterine fibroid Congressional bills to expand research funding, increase early detection and interventions for uterine fibroids, study the causes of uterine cancer, and increase public awareness.
She also partnered with the Foundation for Women’s Health to launch the FWH x Lupita Nyong’o Uterine Fibroid Research Grant in hopes of developing minimally invasive or non-invasive treatments for uterine fibroids to reduce symptoms and improve the quality of life for millions of women in the U.S. and beyond.
“I hope to seek answers for the far too many women dealing with uterine fibroids,” Nyong’o said in an article published by CNN. “We must reject the normalization of female pain.”
“At the age of 31, I received my uterine fibroid diagnosis and was offered only two options: invasive surgery to remove them or live with the pain.”
Venus Williams: Encouraging Open Conversations
Also in July 2025, Venus Williams detailed in length her once-private journey with fibroids and fibroid removal. The Grand Slam tennis champion even went so far as to say that mere hours before she and her sister won their sixth Wimbledon doubles title in 2016, she was lying on the floor of the lock room in intense pain.
“I was in so much pain, my sister took matters into her own hands and brought in a doctor to help me get off the floor,” Williams said in an interview published on July 3. She had heavy bleeding, pelvic pain, and fatigue that doctors dismissed for 30 years. “The doctor came in to give me some pain medication, and I was up on my feet again and able to hold up my side of the court. But that was a turning point for me, when things started to get really bad.”
She added, “No one ever explained that to me, so I didn’t connect these issues to something that could be treated.”
Venus Williams at the 2014 Internazionali BNL d’Italia. Photo credit: Tatiana from Moscow, Russia. Used with permission under the under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license from Wikimedia.
Per the article, she eventually found a team that took her symptoms seriously and began a personalized treatment plan designed not only to treat her fibroids but also restore her quality of life. Fast-forward to today, and she is using her experience to raise awareness of fibroids and spark open conversations between women and their doctors.
“Seeking out providers experienced in treating fibroids and understanding your health goals will help you feel empowered about your ability to navigate your diagnosis,” she said in another article by Healthline.
“Seeking out providers experienced in treating fibroids and understanding your health goals will help you feel empowered about your ability to navigate your diagnosis.”
Surgery for Fibroid Removal vs Minimally Invasive Alternatives
Women today have options to choose from when it comes to fibroid removal and treatment. One, of course, is surgery, and as we have learned over the years, many celebrities have gone that route by way of a hysterectomy or myomectomy. That includes Nyong’o, who underwent a myomectomy. Bethenny Frankel and Porsha Williams also had myomectomies. But there are alternatives, including Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE), that do not involve bloody incisions, lengthy recovery times, and potential complications.
Cynthia Bailey speaking with attendees at the 2021 Arizona Ultimate Women’s Expo at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix, Arizona. Photo credit: Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ. Used with permission under the under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license from Wikimedia.
When Cynthia Bailey, the former star of Real Housewives of Atlanta, opened up about her experience with fibroids, she said she ultimately chose UFE. She had been diagnosed during her pregnancy with her daughter, Noelle, and would experience heavy menstrual bleeding, frequent urination, and pelvic pain, among other symptoms. Upon recovering from UFE, she shared her journey on her show, hosted events, and even spoke at various conferences to raise awareness and encourage women to seek help.
In these talks, as well as in an article by People Magazine in March 2022, Bailey admitted to being in a dark place until she did her own research and learned about UFE.
Rather than physically remove fibroids, UFE blocks blood flow to the fibroids. Without this critical blood supply, fibroids no longer have what they need to thrive or grow inside your uterus. As a result, they shrink and die—thus eliminating painful symptoms.
During the procedure, interventional radiologists make a small puncture on your wrist. With help from a catheter, they inject tiny particles known as embolic material that block nonessential blood vessels leading to the fibroids. It is a low-risk procedure, doesn’t require incisions, and is faster than some of the other alternatives.
Fast-forward to today: Bailey and others who have chosen UFE are now living their best lives.
“I use my celebrity to keep the information out there for women to understand that they do have options and they do not have to suffer in silence,” Bailey said. “And they do not have to have their uterus removed to deal with their fibroid situation. That should be a last resort if it even needs to happen at all.”
“I use my celebrity to keep the information out there for women to understand that they do have options and they do not have to suffer in silence. And they do not have to have their uterus removed to deal with their fibroid situation.”
Get Treated Like a VIP Super Star at Fibroid Institute
The good news when it comes to fibroids is that they are common and very treatable. You are also not alone and have plenty of people with very large platforms advocating for you every day. Thanks to the famous women mentioned above, and our team at Fibroid Institute Texas, important conversations are being held to increase awareness. The result will be improved advocacy, better research, and increased funding on a global stage.
No woman needs to suffer in silence, and you have options. UFE is quickly becoming the gold standard—especially when considering that it is non-surgical, offers faster recovery times, and yields effective outcomes. The only decision left is to choose the right fibroid doctor and team to provide your treatment. Beyond the procedure itself, women want a doctor who provides access, communication, comfort, innovation, trust, and a supportive experience from start to finish. Fibroid Institute Texas is here to treat you like a VIP celebrity when you’re under our care.
At Fibroid Institute, we set the standard of care for advanced fibroid treatment, helping women achieve a fibroid-free life. We specialize in UFE because it delivers results in the least amount of time and with limited pain. On top of that, we simplify your UFE journey, managing everything from insurance to PCP communication and offering all patients physician-direct access before and after their procedure.
Most major medical insurance providers cover the cost of UFE. With multiple locations, our Houston and Dallas fibroid doctors are board-certified interventional radiologists and experts passionate about helping women become #FibroidFree. Get started now in Dallas by calling 214-838-6440, in Houston by calling 713-903-3733, or complete the form below.
Fibroid Institute Texas serves the Dallas and Houston metro areas including Texas City, Cypress, League City, Bellaire, Addison, Carrollton, Plano, Frisco, Craig Ranch, McKinney, Allen, Fort Worth, Grand Prairie, Hurst, Euless, Bedford, Arlington, Hutchins, Irving, Duncanville, DeSoto, Cedar Hill, Lancaster, Cockrell Hill, Highland Park, University Park, Park Cities, Garland, Mesquite, Richardson, Dallas, Sherman, Houston, Sugar Land, Katy, Webster, Clear Lake, The Woodlands, Universal City, Spring, Kingwood, Stafford, Conroe, and more.
This information is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Prior to starting any new treatment or if you have questions regarding a medical condition, always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health provider.
*Patient names and/or photos may be changed to protect patient confidentiality.
