INTRODUCTION - The aim of this study was to analyze female medical students' carrier and family attitudes and plans in view of two social problems: (1) the increasing shortage of physicians in Hungary and (2) conflicts and health problems in the life of female doctors caused by professional and family duties. METHOD - The basis of this study is a self-reported questionnaire-based survey performed in the spring of 2004 among 5th-year female medical students in the faculties of general medicine at Semmelweis and Debrecen universities. One hundred and seventeen students (46.2%) responded. RESULTS - The overwhelming majority of students (91.5%) want to work as a physicians, and 63.5% plan to work abroad in health care. As to family planning, 95.7% of the respondents would like to have children, although only 52.8% plan to stay at home in the first three years. CONCLUSION - These data suggest that the majority of Hungarian female medical students want to be engaged in the medical profession and plan to meet both family and career demands. Due to its special requirements, however, this profession may generate future marital, childmother relationship and workplace conflicts.