Lupita and I got something in common, y’all.

We share an arch nemesis: uterine fibroids.

Yup, those small or sometimes large pink circular clumps (think of a wad of chewing gum) growing in or around the uterus.

The good news is the fibroids are non cancerous.

The bad news is it feels like your insides are rebelling against you. Heavier periods with more intense belly pain, peeing every five minutes and a higher chance of infertility.

So yes, it is all the bad things.

Fortunately, and in a sense unfortunately, there are enough women experiencing fibroids (8 out of 10 Black women to be exact!) to have checked off at least one symptom and can push for more research to find a fix.

Lupita Nyong’o is leading the charge. The Black Panther actress revealed having surgery to remove 30 fibroids the same year she won the Oscar on Instagram Tuesday.

Lupita asked her doctor what she could do to prevent the fibroids from growing back and she said nothing.

And our girl did the opposite. Ms Nyong’o went to D.C. Tuesday to pitch Congressional bills to expand research funding for uterine fibroids and increase awareness.

Lupito has also teamed up with the Foundation for Women’s Health to launch Uterine Fibroid Research Grant to study other ways, besides going under the knife, to treat the condition that affects over 20 million women across the country.

To donate to support the grant click here.

As one of the 20 million who was recently diagnosed with this exhausting and overwhelming condition it’s nice to know I’m not alone.

And for those suffering in silence, you aren’t either.