United Kingdom, July 16 -- Lupita Nyong'o has revealed her uterine fibroids diagnosis after "suffering in silence" for over a decade.

The 42-year-old actress was diagnosed with the illness - which sees non-cancerous growths developing in or around the uterus - 11 years ago, and she has opened up in a bid to encourage more people to talk about women's health issues.

She wrote on Instagram over a series of photos: "In March 2014, I won an Academy Award. That same year, I discovered I had uterine fibroids. 30 fibroids.

"I had surgery to remove them. I asked my doctor if I could do anything to prevent them from recurring.

"She said: 'You can't. It's only a matter of time until they grow again.' "

She explained that uterine fibroids "can ...