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 and Fragile X Syndrome — Webinar Replay
Understand the difference between males and females with Fragile X syndrome. Also discussed are strategies for common challenges such as information processing, cognition, and social issues.
Female Power to Fight a Crisis — Webinar Replay
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
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. - Closing the Gender Gap in Fragile X Syndrome: Review of Females with Fragile X Syndrome and Preliminary Research Findings —Brain Sciences ( 2019)
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Genetic and maternal predictors of cognitive and behavioral trajectories in females with fragile X syndrome https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6011256/
- Identity and Reproductive Aspects in Females with Fragile X Syndrome — Women’s Health Reports (Dec 2021)
- Females With Fragile X Syndrome: An Overview — CDC