sophie, fibroadenoma are usually caused by high levels of estrogen. I’ve heard evening primrose oil is meant to be useful for them (As well as fixing the estrogen levels).

oops I just saw that you mention that in the article.
Is it worthwhile taking in addition to probiotics, magnesium etc?

People become overweight for many reasons and it’s usually a combination of factors, not only hormonal but psychological, emotional and genetic. I agree the surgery is an extreme option with risks but often being very overweight has greater long term risks than the surgery. From a hormonal perspective, fat cells secrete estrogen which is why being very overweight often plays havoc with menstruation and fertility and reducing weight in these individuals usually always helps. I personally know of several people who suffered from PCOS and irregular cycles who underwent weight loss surgery and now have regular cycles again including one friend that fell pregnant following surgery. The assisted weight loss helped them be able to make healthy food choices and be more active and I am sure all these factors contributed to their improved health.

While it isn’t an option to take lightly, it is something to consider if a person is very overweight and possibly has a history of being so, not for someone that needs to lose a few kgs. While of course lifestyle changes are still very important, I do think weight loss surgery for certain individuals is a very viable option which will greatly improve their health and fertility. It’s important to look at someone’s history and have a balanced view of what might be going on and what might help rather than say outright that this option isn’t going to work because it can and has worked for many people.