Analysis of estrogen and progesterone receptor (ER, PR) status was performed in pre-, peri- and postmenopausal women at the time of surgery in 60 women with breast cancer and 19 women with benign breast disease by comparative use of the dextrose coated charcoal method and the immunohistochemical assay (peroxidase-antiperoxidase technique). In premenopausal women we furthermore differentiated depending on the menstrual cycle at the time of surgery. The retrospective study shows sufficiently consistent results in both analytical procedures. There was no difference in the expression of ER and PR in pre- and postmenopausal women, furthermore, ER and PR expression was not significantly different during the follicular phase compared to luteal phase.