Drug delivery system comprising a tetrahydroxylated estrogen for use in hormonal contraception

摘要

A method of contraception in mammalian females, which method comprises the parenteral or rectal administration of an estrogenic component and a progestogenic component to a female of childbearing capability in an amount effective to inhibit ovulation, wherein the estrogenic component is selected from the group consisting of substances represented by the following formula (1); in which R₁, R₂, R₃, R₄ independently are a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group or an alkoxy group with 1-5 carbon atoms; each of R₅, R₆, R₇ is a hydroxyl group; and no more than 3 of R₁, R₂, R₃, R₄ are hydrogen atoms; precursors capable of liberating a substance according to the aforementioned formula when used in the present method; and mixtures of one or more of the aforementioned substances and/or precursors. Another aspect of the invention concerns a drug delivery system for parenteral or rectal administration that contains the aforementioned estrogenic component and a progestogenic component, said drug delivery system being selected from the group consisting of suppositories, systems for intravaginal delivery, inhalers, nasal sprays and transdermal delivery systems.