| abstract |
One aspect of the invention is concerned with the use of an estrogenic component selected from the group consisting of: nsubstances represented by the following formulan n nin which formula R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 independently are a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group or an alkoxy group with 1-5 carbon atoms; each of R 5 , R 6 , R 7 is a hydroxyl group; and no more than 3 of R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 are hydrogen atoms; derivatives of these substances wherein the hydrogen atom of at least one of the hydroxyl groups in said formula has been substituted by an acyl radical of a hydrocarbon carboxylic, sulfonic or sulfamic acid of 1-25 carbon atoms, tetrahydrofuranyl, tetrahydropyranal, or a straight or branched chain glycosidic residue containing 1-20 glycosidic units per residue; and mixtures thereof; in the preparation of a composition for use in a method of hormone replacement therapy, which method comprises non-orally administering to a person in need of such a therapy an effective amount of the estrogenic component without adjunctive progestogen or anti-progestogen treatment, said composition containing no progestogen or anti-progestin. nAnother aspect of the invention relates to a drug delivery system for enteral or parenteral administration that contains at least 1 µg of the aforementioned estrogenic component and no progestogen or anti-progestin. |