183: Why Am I So Irritable? Perimenopause, Poor Sleep & the Mental Load

Is it perimenopause, poor sleep, or the exhaustion of being the person who remembers everything?

If your patience feels shorter, your nights feel longer, and you keep thinking, "I don't feel like myself," this episode is for you.

On this episode of Confessions of a Male Gynecologist, Dr. Shawn Tassone explores irritability, perimenopause rage, anxiety, disrupted sleep, and the mental load with an approach that considers both your health and your everyday life.

From hormone fluctuations and menstrual-cycle patterns to invisible household responsibilities, Dr. Tassone explains why similar symptoms can have different causes and why "just relax" rarely moves the conversation forward. He also addresses an important distinction: wanting relief from symptoms doesn't mean you need to return to saying yes to everyone.

In this episode, you'll hear:

• Why perimenopause belongs in the conversation even when you're still having periods.
• How to describe mood changes beyond "I'm hormonal" or "I'm always angry."
• Why the timing of symptoms matters when discussing PMS, PMDD, and premenstrual mood changes.
• How night sweats, insomnia, and limited time for sleep call for different approaches.
• What CBT-I is and why it comes up in conversations about chronic insomnia.
• Why thyroid disease, sleep apnea, and iron deficiency may deserve consideration when fatigue is part of the picture.
• What normal lab results can—and cannot—tell you about how you feel.
• How Dr. Tassone evaluates hormonal, nonhormonal, and supportive approaches within integrative care.
• What recent observational research on hormone therapy, mood, and sleep can tell us—and where its limits are.
• How partners and families can take responsibility for tasks without leaving women to manage the help.

You'll leave with a simple framework for your next appointment: when symptoms started, the pattern you've noticed, what's happening with sleep, and how your daily life is affected.

Two questions to bring:
"What are we treating first?"
"When do we reassess?"

"The goal of treating a woman's symptoms is not to make her easier for everyone else to live with. It's to help her sleep, function, and feel more like herself."
— Dr. Shawn Tassone

Follow Confessions of a Male Gynecologist for honest conversations about women's health, hormones, and the evidence behind your options. If this episode gives you words for what you've been experiencing, share it with someone you'd like to understand.

Episode Resources:

Work with Dr. Tassone | Tassone Advanced Gynecology

Please contact the clinic directly at (512) 956- 0296 with all scheduling inquiries.

Purchase Dr. Tassone's Best-Selling Book | The Hormone Balance Bible

Dr. Tassone's Integrative Hormonal Archetype Quiz | Discover Your Hormonal Archetype

Medical Disclaimer
This podcast and website represent the opinions of Dr. Shawn Tassone and his guests. The content here should not be taken as medical advice and is for informational purposes only. Because each person is so unique, please consult your health care professional for any medical questions.