<p>Hormones can influence the development and progression of malignant tumors. These hormone-dependent types of cancer include breast cancer as well as gynecological malignancies, such as endometrial and ovarian cancers. In addition to endogenous hormones, reproductive and metabolic factors, exogenously introduced hormones also modify the risk of these cancer types. While the influence of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) during peri- and postmenopause on the risk of hormone-dependent malignancies has received extensive media attention in recent years, there has been comparatively little awareness of the substantial effects of obesity and metabolic disorders on cancer risk. This article provides an overview on the impact of endogenous hormones, metabolism-related factors and HRT during the peri- and postmenopause on the risk of hormone-dependent malignancies. Therefore, it can provide valuable support in risk assessment and patient counselling in the clinical routine.</p>