Can IGM be passed on to daughters?

[barbados95]

Hi ladies
As I have just been diagnosed with IGM I was wondering if anyone has ever been told it may be passed on to their daughters.  As well as trying to come to terms with the diagnosis, I am also worried about my daughter.

Julie

[JoJo45]

GM has been recognized since 1972, I have never read of any cases of any family members 'catching this' or being diagnosed with this, after their mothers had it.  Pretty sure it is not something entirely genetic, possibly genetic factor, but also other causative factor, as is true in many diseases.

Also many women continue breastfeeding with GM and I have never heard of any illness in those being fed, or again, any other trasmissions to family members.   Jo

[fibromommyx3]

Just a quick note...there are some cases of GM that are caused by TB (tuberculosis) and even possibly cat scratch fever.  And I think a few other illnesses that you can contract but I can't think of them off the top of my head.  That's why my dr. ran a lot of blood work in the beginning to rule out any of that stuff.  

So I would say in those instances that no, they wouldn't be passed onto your daughters.  But I am NOT a medical doctor.  Just making an educated guess.  I do agree with all the other womens advice.  Hang in there and we will all make it through together.

[MargaretAnn1977]

I have two little daughters, and I never considered that they could get GM as well. Now, of course, I'm thinking about it. I, too, went through a period when I wondered if I had breast cancer. But it wasn't cancer. And even though GM is awful and frustrating and so very painful, if my daughters get it, I will be able to help them because of my experience. I will know how to care for them if they have to have abscesses drained and go through the stress of tons of appointments and crazy-making pain. They may even remember "Mommy's owies", as they're known around the house, and take comfort that they're not alone in this. I was so alone until I found this forum--supported and loved and taken care of, but so in the dark. Now we're all kind of in the dark together as far as GM goes, but it may be different by the time our daughters are older. We may have answers, and if we don't, we'll know how to love them through this. I know that's not much, but it's comforting to me to think about it like that.

[eluriajen]

My daughter is 3 years old, and will be 4 in July. It breaks my heart to think that she could get this too, and that I would be the one who "gave" it to her. I hope not. There was a short (but terrifying) time period when my doctors were telling me that they thought I had breast cancer...and all I could think was that breast cancer definitely has a hereditary factor, and that I never wanted my daughter to get it : ( When you're a mama, all you want to do is to protect your babies.

[Mum2006]

Hi,
     I'm diagnosed at this age of 30 and i had fibrodenomas since 28. I agree with what Jennifer said. So less is known about this disease and hence very difficult to know if it is hereditary. My Mum is 48 and by God's grace everything is fine with her. She just keeps on worrying thinking how I got this. Hope someone sooner or later finds a cure and answers to all our questions.. I'm worried too now coz I have a 4 yrs 10 mths old daughter and it never occured to me that this can be passed on :((( ...
    

[one_hot_mess]

Hi Julie,
My daughters are 29 & 31 & both have healthy breasts.... but who knows, I wasn't diagnosed until age 52.  I sure hope it is not hereditary.

[barbados95]

Thank you Jennifer.
I am wondering if it is doe to the coil. I am going to do some digging around. I agree about the inflammation idea - my mother and both sisters have different forms of inflammatory problems. I think that seen as this disease only came into the limelite less than 30 years ago it must have some relevance to either contraception or enviroment.
Julie

[eluriajen]

Julie,

I don't know the answer to this...I have wondered the same thing. I think it is likely that since so little is known about this disease, it might be difficult to find an answer to this question. I don't know if there is enough information for us to be able to know. Neither my mother nor my grandmother had this disease. It also seems like there are a lot of environmental factors - birth control, some of us suspect essential oils, and who knows what else - so it might be that those conditions wouldn't be re-created from mother to daughter. I have wondered about beningn breast disease being hereditary, though...I have had 2 different bengin breast conditions that were supposedly unrelated. And just the general tendency to have lots of inflammation can also be hereditary. Anyway, these are just my thoughts and opinions. I don't know what the answer is.

Jennifer