It is not something they do genetic testing for. Maybe the tech is there, but it is not useful. The reason? Having genes for UC does not mean you get UC. It just means you have a genetic predisposition, just like with heart disease or diabetes. So, would knowing they have the genes put your mind at ease or make you worry more? I think the latter.

If it helps, the lifetime risk of developing UC when one parent has it, is 10%. This means that they have a 90% chance of NEVER having UC during their lifetime. Pretty good odds I would think!

Even if they do get it at some point, you will deal with it.

Jan

Thanks Jan! Do you know what the risk percentage is for Crohns? 

I am the same as you as far as being the only one in my family with IBD.

I had this conversation with my GI many years ago and I believe what he said was the risk of a child developing IBD was 25% if I married a healthy woman or 50% if I married a woman with IBD. I made the decision not to have children in part for this reason, but as well for a number of other reasons.  I believe it would be objectively selfish and also not terribly smart to bring a child into this world not knowing where things are going with health care insurance.  Republicans believe the solution to the health care crisis is to repeal Obamacare and throw sick people into the street and leave them to their own devices.  With an uncertain future and not even knowing what will happen to me in my old age when I can't work any more, it's kind of scary to think about.  This isn't even to mention the hideous/obscene costs of educating a child to the level to which I was educated.  Just way too many scary thoughts.  I almost got an ex-girlfriend pregnant when I was a 24 year old and frequently think back to how lucky I was for nothing coming from that incredibly stupid indiscretion on my part.

I use the word selfish mainly because of the emotional toll I saw my disease take on my mother.  It's not something a mother should be deliberately made to go through.  How could I do that to someone when I saw what it did to my Mom?  I am not going to the roll the dice with other people's emotions/financial burdens based on these percentages.  It is a form of gambling and it isn't right, in my opinion.  Just my 2 cents-

Brewbirds, since you already have children I see no point in discussing the pros and cons of having children that *might* inherit a tendency towards a disease or place a financial/emotional burden on the parents. I am sure you feel as I do, that your children are a blessing and you will deal with whatever comes along.

I was diagnosed with UC at age 15. My husband developed it at age 45, long after we were married and had children. My 2 boys both then had a 30-50% lifetime risk, with both parents having IBD. My youngest son was diagnosed with pancolitis at age 22 and my oldest son developed mild UC at age 28. They are both fine and managing well on medication. We deal with things as they come along and it works.

I do know that the risks of developing Crohn's in the children of those with Crohn's is higher than 10%, but I cannot for the life of me remember what that was. Perhaps someone else has that data.

Jan

I must have misunderstood the original post.  I thought this question was being posed with regard to possibly having other children.