Premutations of the fragile-X (FRAXA) gene were thought to have no clinical effects until recent reports of an increased incidence of premature ovarian failure in females and a late-onset neurological disorder in males.
First, the couples have to be informative (the number of triplet repeats on the healthy FMR-1 allele of the mother has to be different from the number of repeats on the healthy FMR-1 allele of the father) and second, women with a premutation are at increased risk of premature ovarian failure.
A significant association of familial POF and FRAXA premutation carriers with POF having low copy of the (TA)n polymorphism as compared to controls was observed.