AUTHOR=Wheeler Anne C. , Raspa Melissa , Green Annette , Bishop Ellen , Bann Carla , Edwards Anne , Bailey Donald B. 

TITLE=Health and reproductive experiences of women with an FMR1 premutation with and without fragile X premature ovarian insufficiency

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Genetics

VOLUME=5

YEAR=2014

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/genetics/articles/10.3389/fgene.2014.00300

DOI=10.3389/fgene.2014.00300

ISSN=1664-8021

ABSTRACT=<p>Recently, research has indicated an increased risk for greater medical and emotional comorbidity and physical health symptoms among women with an <italic>FMR1</italic> expansion. However, these studies have generally been limited in their ability to model multiple risk factors associated with these symptoms by small numbers (<italic>n</italic> = 112–146) of participants. This study used survey methodology to examine the health experiences of 458 adult women with the premutation with and without a history of a fragile X primary ovarian insufficiency (FXPOI) diagnosis. Results suggest similar findings to those reported in the literature with regard to the frequency of medical, emotional, and reproductive experiences of women with the premutation. In addition to expected reproductive differences, women with a diagnosis of FXPOI were also more likely to experience dizziness, nausea, and muscle weakness than women without a diagnosis of FXPOI. Women with and without FXPOI were more likely to have used reproductive assistance and were more likely to have experienced preeclampsia during at least one pregnancy than is reported in the general population. Having comorbid depression and anxiety was predictive of increased medical conditions and increased daily physical health symptoms.</p>