I'd say don't worry about it until you are in a lasting, committed relationship and preferably really serious about getting married.

I always knew I wanted several children. I come from a large, close-knit family, so family is really important to me. My husband and I have three sons and we've created our own close-knit family.

I don't think it is necessarily difficult to get pregnant on bipolar meds. What is difficult is being pregnant while bipolar because many meds can't be taken during pregnancy and pregnancy can be very destabilizing even under the best of circumstances.

I had my sons before I ever had my diagnosis. I don't think it would have changed my decision since I've always been pretty high functioning, able to work, able to manage except in the most severe points of episodes which fortunately weren't really an issue most of the time. There also isn't a huge history of mental illness in my family, so odds were somewhat better that my children would be less affected. I've been able to be a good, stable presence in their lives, and they are very healthy, responsible, stable men now.

Always remember: parenthood is for life. It isn't over when they're adults even. Parenthood is completely life-changing; your life is never, ever completely your own again. Some people aren't willing or able to accept that responsibility, and it is much better to know, admit, and plan life that way than to discover it later and have the children bear the brunt of that regret.