It sucks but it is a game of chance. I have 2 kids and one on the way and I just pray that they do not get this stuff. My mom had it, and I do. My younger brother had a boil lanced once, but he hasn't been diagnosed. I know my mother's mother had it and my mother and my uncle......however she had 2 other kids....and my aunt and other uncle do not have it.

I don't think that it should stop you from having kids though....i mean it is your freedom and right as a human being. People have cancer and other things that 'may' be passed to their children....but there is no definitive answer or way to know for sure.

I am a Stage 3 and I had a baby boy 5 weeks ago. I never thought this disease was hereditary since I didn't know anyone in my family who had it. My Mom told me once that my aunt got boils every now and then but to my knowledge, she has never been diagnosed with HS. It wasn't until I was pregnant that I found out I could pass this horrible disease on to my son. I would feel so guilty if developed it. I still want one more child, I just don't know if it's worth the risk of possibly passing on HS. I kind of feel like having more children would be selfish on my part because I would never want someone I loved that much to have to suffer like I do. On the other hand, as much as I suffer in silence with this disease, I have a wonderful life filled with wonderful people and I have never once wished my parents had never given birth to me. I feel very blessed to have what I have. That's what makes me feel like it would be ok for me to have another child. HS is not the end of the world. As painful and embarassing as it is, it doesn't have me wanting to drive off a cliff. I love my life and I will do whatever I can to instill that positive attitude in my children and give them the best lives imaginable :)

On the other hand you have until your child hits puberty before you have to worry about it. And if you're observant you can get them to the doc at the first sign of a boil and really get the most out of preventive care.

If you catch it early enough you may can prevent the later stages. I think our mistake is that many of us waited too long to get help....I know I did.

Have a baby. EVERYONE on Earth that gets pregnant takes that chance that their child will inhereit something from their lineage that is undesirable, or my develop a birth defect.. do not let fear detract you from the single most pleasurable thing you will ever have in your life. Becoming a mother.. either through adoption or any other means is the most important and life changing thing that you can possibly do.. in my opinion anyway. Like others have said, monitor your child and you will be armed and ready to help them IF they should acquire HS. I have an 18 year old son who had been HS free, then developed a cyst on his cheek.. we got him to the doctor and started on antibiotics and since then he has had no problems, hopefully he will continue to be free of HS, but if he is not I can tell you HE is NOT the least bit sad, mad or worried that I gave him life WITH HS. We live everyday with love, laughter and joy, and everyday I live is for and with my children.. as you will too regardless of the possiblity that your child MIGHT devlope HS. Who knows what will happen in the next 10 or 20 years, there may even be a cure or at least a treatment that will help ALL HS sufferers and it would be a shame if you passed on the chance to become a mother out of fear of the future when the future could possibly be much different that the here and now. I did not know I had HS when I had my first 2 children, but I STILL had a 3rd when I KNEW that I had HS.. it might have been selfish of me, but I can not imagine my life without any of my children and would have another if it were possible and God willing, because all children are a blessing that can not be matched by anything on Earth. Have a baby, you will NEVER regret it, no matter what the child develops in the future.

thank you guys, im still terriified to do it, but i know i will regret it if i do not have children. my husband is 45 and has 2 children from his previous marriage. 14 yo girl and 16 yo son. but i still have a hard time seeing them as my children also, because im only 5 years older than my stepson. either way i love them to death and always will. its just hard.

my husband and I have done some serious talking on this very subject recently. When I found out it was hereditary, i asked around and my dad is pretty sure he has it, but hasn't been diagnosed and quite frankly, daddy's girl and all, i can't have us strip down to compare scars and he won't go to the doc. As far as we know, we're the only ones, but I don't know how extensive into my family history it might go. anyway, on top of my HS, my family (specifically mother and father) have a VERY extensive list of medical problems, some hereditary, some not. So, needless to say, I have my doubts about potentially putting another human thru what I've gone through. BUT, that being said, Dustbucket, you make a very valid point, so many of us suffered so hard and long b/c we weren't diagnosed...I know now, know what to look for, and know how to bring some relief, so you're right, I feel strongly that I could jump on something like that for my own child and start treatment early. so, thanks for that advice! :)

As far as I know i'm the only one in my family with it, although my mom had one in the armpit and groin when i was a pre-teen. That was when she was in her 30's. Nothing since though.

I wouldn't trade my Sophie for anything. Besides she makes me laugh and forget the pain. She also brings me out of my hole and helps me see past HS. She's part of my cure.

My 2 boys are my world.... don't think I would even get out of bed without them!!! Having children is the only unconditional love at first sight you will ever experience.

Gf-
I'm already on the gf diet remember? I started it a few weeks ago and am not see any changes.

u know what! no one in my immediate family or living family member has what i have. i think it goes back some generations in my family and b4 i even knew that id get this crap i had a baby.. actually no i had one boil b4 i got pregnant but hadnt gotten diagnosed with it fully...so i had no clue... wasnt til after my first baby that it went crazy in my armpits... im prayin to god that i dont pass this on to my son or the one on the way. i dont think u shuld let that stop you tho. like Dustbucket said, its a game of chance. i would never have been fully happy in my marriage without kids..

Just wanted to mention... you may want to try being a foster parent...I know a few people who adopted through fostering.

so, its funny how not very long ago i was talking about children. well, without trying, im almost 90% sure im pregnant. i plan on taking a test in the morning to make sure. but as of right now,im getting all the classic symptoms. im not sure whether to be excited or not. but,im a sense it feels right. we shall see. :)

Congrats if you are! I want a baby so much, but 9 months of trying and no success. I don't want to pass this HS along, but would love to be a mother!

Ironically, I haven't thought of passing this on to my children as a reason not to have any. Probably b/c I am 33, single, and now find myself worried about "the clock". I am now having dreams of having a child, getting pressure from my mother to do so etc. I have always known that HS is genetic to some extent afterall my mother has it. I guess what it comes down to is how strong is your desire to have a child and share all of the positive experiences that goes along with that rather than worrying about transmission. Not to say it is not a concern, but does anyone know the penetrance of this disease? ( how many people if exposed actually develop disease) Also, I wonder what the chances are statistically of passing it on ? By the sheer fact that there are people on this site whom have mentioned they are the only one in their family to have this thing there is a chance that it won't be passed on.