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BACKGROUND : The evidence base for hormone replacement therapy of women during and after menopause has been strengthened in recent years. The aim of the study was to investigate Norwegian GPs' attitude to hormone replacement treatment in menopause, their knowledge of effects and indications, the risk of side effects, and the personal use of hormone treatment by female GPs. MATERIAL AND METHODS : A questionnaire was sent to 400 Norwegian GPs, randomly drawn from the membership list of GPs in the Norwegian Medical Association, in May 2004. RESULTS : We received answers from 72%. The answers imply that most Norwegian GPs know the current evidence base regarding the effects and side effects of hormone replacement therapy. Most of them indicate that they follow the Norwegian recommendations about indications and contra-indications, but that they continue the treatment longer than recommended. A large majority of the respondents agreed to the statements that hormone treatment increases the risk of breast cancer, that it does not prevent heart infarction and that the most important reason to prescribe hormone treatment is bothersome hot flushes. Female GPs seem to be better updated on some aspects of the treatment than men. 14 out of 17 peri- and postmenopausal female GPs were using or had used such treatment. INTERPRETATION : Norwegian GPs are generally well updated regarding new evidence in this field. The proportion of menopausal female GPs who take hormone treatment themselves has remained quite stable and is substantially higher than that for the average for the population. This finding may imply that menopausal female GPs regard the risks of treatment as low, and that most of them find the benefits of treatment greater than the risks.

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