Abstract: A method of treating estrogen deficiencies in menopausal women by the oral administration of an estrogen alone followed by an estrogen progestogen combination and then a placebo.

Abstract: A 3-keto-19-nor-pregnene of the formula ##STR1## wherein R is selected from the group consisting of hydroxy, acyloxy of an organic carboxylic acid, lower alkoxy, halogen and lower alkyl, R' is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and halogen, or R and R' together form oxygen, R.sub.3 is selected from the group consisting of methyl, --OH and lower acyloxy of an organic carboxylic acid and the dotted line is an optional double bond in the 6,7-position useful for treating the symptoms of menopause in females.

Abstract: Subcutaneous implant for preventing conception for at least one year in women comprising an amount effect to prevent conception without suppressing intermontly bleeding of a steroid compound of formula I or formula II and a physiologically-tolerable pharmaceutical carrier.

Abstract: The invention relates to the domain of medicinal chemistry. It concerns more particularly that of the preparation of pharmaceutical compositions for ocular use.A subject of the invention is pharmaceutical compositions for ocular use characterized in that they contain at least one selected compound of steroidal structure in combination with or admixed with a pharmaceutically-acceptable, inert carrier or vehicle.The compositions according to the invention are intended to the treatment of glaucoma.

Abstract: A process for crystallizing a pharmaceutically active steroidal product, without mechanical procedure, to obtain a homogeneous granulometric class which may be prepared beforehand, wherein the product which is desired to be crystallized is dissolved in a ternary mixture made of a lipophilic solvent, a hydrophilic solvent and a surface active agent at a temperature close to the boiling point of the mixture of solvents and wherein the mixture of solvents is allowed to revert to a temperature where the crystallization initiates, then, the thus-formed crystals are recovered.

Abstract: A process for making a known 6-methyl, 19-nor-pregna-4, 6-diene, 3.20-dione which begins with formylating a 3-alcoxy, 19-nor-pregna-3,5,17(20)-triene at the 6 position. The 6-formylated derivative is reduced to yield a 6-hydroxy methylated derivative, which is in turn dehydrated to a 3-keto, 6-methylenic derivative. The 3-keto derivative is then isomerized to a 3-keto, 4,6,17-pregnatriene. This latter triene is then coverted to the known product by reaction with a bis-hydroxylating agent and a catalyst based on osmium tetroxide. Optionally, the product can be acylated at the 17-alpha position. The process reduces the cost of producing the known product by allowing it to be manufactured from starting materials less costly than those previously required.