Would having a family history of a disease make you hesitant about having your own biological children?

[4465loveyou5577]

Breast cancer runs very strong in my family. My mom and my sister both had it and my aunt actually died from it (all in their 30s). In all honesty, I don't think there's anyone in my moms' side of the family who hasn't had breast cancer before menopause so that puts me in the very high risk category. It's also kind of (for the lack of a better term) ironicbecause big boobs also run in the family and I don't know how many times I've heard other girls say things like "you got the lucky genes" and "Oh I wish I had your boobs" and I'm thinking "oh no you don't, and I ain't talking about back or shoulder pain because that's the least of the worries that they give me." But anyway since most occurances of BC in my family occured in their 30s and I'm approaching 30 it kind of feels like this looming shadow. I've tested positive for the BRCA1 gene and it feels like a creeping worry in the back of my mind. I do what I can, eat right and get screened every 6 months but I still worry about it and have even considered the "Angelina Jolie option". And while I love my mother so much I can't help but fear that if I brought a child into this world he or she would live in fear of getting breast, ovarian or prostate cancer. And I can only imagine the guitl that I would feel if my son or daughter got one of those diseases. I can't help but think that I would be the one responsible for their plight. And I can only imagine how much fear somone who had a similar predisposition to something like heart disease would have. Unlike the breasts, prostate or ovaries the hearts a vital organ so they wouldn't have the "Angelina Jolie option." I don't know what do you guys think"?

[Anonymous]

Maybe you could try for a boy or adopt? I dunno. I don't think it'd be fair for you to deprive yourself of the opportunity to have children but if you're going to live in constant guilt, maybe you should consider your options.

Endometriosis (and mental illness) runs in my family and I wouldn't wish that pain on anyone, but chances are if I ever have a little girl, she has a good chance of suffering through it. I might even specifically try for little boys but I don't know. I probably will still have kids... it's the natural thing to do. Pretty much all families have some sort of negative genetic health defect and people still have children.

[Realfire22]

Knowing that sickle cell runs on both me and my bf's family makes me very nervous that our kids could end up having it or some other crazy diseases. I'm actually very afraid of that. Thing is I really want my own biological children and my boyfriend eventually wants some too. I'll have to do a heck of a lot of praying.

[Octavius]

I think they'd still rather exist and endure. Again though it's 100% your decision to get kids or not. Who knows by the time they're 30 there's a realistic chance those diseases could be cured. Hopefully you won't have to get it.

[Waffles731]

I've got mental illnesses that can be passed genetically and so does my girlfriend.
Not only that but neither of us want kids.
Neither of us are the right people to bring a new soul into this world

[Anonymous]

I am already hesitant of having kids as it is already, but having a disease that I could transmit to my kids would make me even more hesitant, honestly I wouldn't know what to do in that situation, but adoption is always a great option, there's so many kids out there that need parents

[chrisbigman]

Yes, I will admit I would (be hesitant). I would hate to put my descendants in a position to have to deal with a crappy life because of a disease I had.