Definitely it's worth knowing

It can have a genetic component, but that's not always the main cause. I think it just pre-disposes us to being bipolar. I had a lot of trauma in my life, and so have a lot of the people on this forum; I believe environmental factors too play a role in being bipolar.

If you think you have bipolar or a mental illness, you should see a psychiatrist and get a formal opinion. Bipolar pretty much needs lifelong medication, but I'm sure the doctors tinker with it should you decide to become pregnant. (When I was pregnant, I had been mis-diagnosed with depression, and they basically I was off meds until the end when they put me on Zoloft & some Klonopin for panic attacks).