My understanding is (if I'm remembering correctly) that I think it's around a 10-15% chance if one parent is affected and around 35% for both parents. Don't quote me though since those are at the top of my head.

If my opinion matters at all though, marriage is tough. Marry who you love. And I'm sure being with someone who gets a lot of this is a huge support. While my husband is loving and great and what not, he has still never really gotten it... and it can be tough a lot of the time.

I have Crohn's so although none of my 7 siblings have been affected by it I have told them that they should not tempt fate by dating people who have inflamm. bowel disease. Having been through what we go through it is highly emotional thinking that our children are experiencing that type of pain. However, I think it is only fitting that people with IBD have kids with it because they have such a base of knowledge. I still say I would want my kid to get sick over a kid with parents with no experience with all of this! Clearly you are more likely to get a child with IBD if your partner is also affected, but you are also more prepared to deal with it. Don't let fear rule your life!

Actually, I was the one with UC first. Age 15, very severe pancolitis. My husband was diagnosed around age 45, left sided colitis, after we had children, and after my colectomy.

I have one son with colitis (pancolitis), diagnosed at age 20. He quickly responded to IV steroids and has been in remission for about 5 years. We just know he will be able to deal with UC in stride, just as his parents do.

While they are learning all the time more and more about the genetics of IBD (Crohn's has more of a genetic link than UC), they cannot do genetic testing to rule out or in if your kids will get UC. Even identical twins do not both get UC or Crohn's and they both have the same genetics and environment. Also, remember that the 35+% risk with both parents is a LIFETIME risk, so even if they MAY get IBD, they also may not ever get it, since it also requires environmental triggers.
http://www.genomesunzipped.org...-predict-disease.php

So, basically you are faced with the question of do you want biological children or not? If you do, then it is a risk you need to assume (or I guess your children do). But, if you adopt, you have no way of knowing THOSE kids do not have any genetic risks. Those risks could be worse than IBD!

Say they even come up with testing so you can test your kids for IBD genes. Would you want to? You cannot prevent it and you'd already know to watch for signs. Plus, it might adversely affect health and life insurance premiums. All for something that may never occur. On the other hand, I completely understand the concerns, particularly with known Crohn's.

Hey, maybe the IBD genes are found in especially talented, intelligent people, or it is protective against another, more serious disease? But, if you are serious about exploring this, you could seek out a genetic counselor to give you the relative risk ratio.

Jan