Hormonal replacement therapy (HRT) has been widely used for the 1llanagement of climateric symptoms. As it is known that steroidhormones, mainly estrogens, are promoting factors for mammary carcinogenesis, the safety of HRT in terms of risk for breast cancer may be cause of concern. In this review literature the authors concluded that HRT increases slightly the relative risk of breast cancer, and may by tailoring considered when the advantages exceed the disadvantages. Neverthless HRT should be avoided in women with personal history of breast cancer or presenting high riskpredisposing factors, to whom non-hormonal alternatives are preferred.