Females & Fragile X Syndrome
Females with a full mutation exhibit a wide range of cognitive abilities, from very mild learning disabilities (normal IQ) to intellectual disabilities. Females are much less likely than boys to exhibit physical characteristics of Fragile X and many have no noticeable physical differences. Females with a full mutation are at increased risk to experience anxiety.
From Our Info Series
You may also want to browse our other available Info Series flyers, each designed to be easily printable on your home or office printer. Each of our Info Series are also available in Spanish as a PDF.
Easy-to-scan resource on females and Fragile X, including physical, cognitive, behavioral, and emotional issues associated with the mutation, and the differences when compared to males.
Webinars
Females with Fragile X Syndrome — Webinar
Barb Haas-Givler, MEd, BCBA, Cora Taylor, PhD, Nicole Tartaglia, MD, Tracy Jordan, PhD, and Vicki Wilkins, MD joined us for a one-hour Q & A discussing Females with Fragile X Syndrome.
Females with FXS: Strategies for Developing Executive Functioning and Social Skills — Webinar
Barb Haas-Givler presents a one-hour Q&A session on resources and strategies for the classroom, home, and community.
Strategies to Improve Executive Functioning for School-Aged Girls with Fragile X Syndrome — Presentation
Jayne Dixon-Weber shares top takeaways from Barbara Haas-Givler's conference presentation strategies for improving executive functioning for girls with Fragile X syndrome
Experts Discuss Females with Fragile X Syndrome — Panel
Experts in the field discuss support and solutions for females with Fragile X in this panel discussion and Q&A. Join Jennifer Barber, Susan Howell, Barbara Haas-Givler, Nicole Tartaglia, Rebecca Shaffer, and Laurie Bridges.
Setting the Stage for Success: Effective Strategies to Promote and Support Social Skills — Presentation
This session discusses specific strategies to help promote and support essential social skills for those with Fragile X. Presented by Barbara Haas-Givler.
Females and Fragile X Syndrome — Webinar
Dr. Braden helps us understand the difference between males and females with Fragile X syndrome as well as strategies for common challenges for females that include executive functioning and relationships.
Female Power to Fight a Crisis — Presentation
Females living with Fragile X syndrome were asked to give advice to other females living with FXS on how to cope with this — or any future — crisis. Listen as Marcia talks through their advice and her own advice, built on decades of working with patients with Fragile X syndrome.
From Our Blog
Study: Somatic symptom development in 6-12 year old females with an FMR1 mutation (SoS Study)
Researchers at the New York State Institute for Basic Research are conducting a study to better understand the development of physical (somatic) symptoms in females living with and without an FMR1 gene variation.
Talking with Your Daughter About Her Fragile X Syndrome Diagnosis
Are you wondering when and how to talk to your daughter about her Fragile X syndrome diagnosis? If so, you are not alone. Here are some strategies to help in talking about your daughter’s FXS diagnosis with her.
The Unique Challenges for Females with Fragile X Syndrome
Though males experience both greater frequency and severity of symptoms, females with FXS do present a variety of challenges as well. We take a look at what those are with Dr. Marcia Braden.
More Resources
- Reproductive Options
There are a number of ways to build a family for carriers including conceiving naturally and testing the pregnancy (i.e., prenatal diagnosis), testing a fertilized egg outside the woman’s body, and implanting only unaffected embryos (i.e., preimplantation genetic diagnosis), using an egg donor, adoption, or conceiving naturally and not doing any testing.
- Identity and Reproductive Aspects in Females with Fragile X Syndrome — Women’s Health Reports (Dec 2021)
- Females With Fragile X Syndrome: An Overview — CDC
- Closing the Gender Gap in Fragile X Syndrome: Review of Females with Fragile X Syndrome and Preliminary Research Findings — Brain Sciences (2019)
- Genetic and Maternal Predictors of Cognitive and Behavioral Trajectories in Females with Fragile X Syndrome — Journal of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (2018)