Novel methods for treating or reducing the likelihood of acquiring symptoms ordiseases due to the menopause,in postmenopausal women, particularly osteoporosis, vaginal atrophy anddryness, hypogonadism, diminished libido, skin atrophy,connective tissue disease, urinary incontinence, breast, endometrial, ovarianand uterine cancers, hot flashes, loss of muscle mass,insulin resistance, fatigue, loss of energy, aging, physical symptoms ofmenopause, in susceptible warm-blooded animals includinghumans involving administration of a sex steroid precursor are disclosed. Saidmethod comprising novel ways of administering anddosing dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in order to take advantage of positiveandrogenic effects in the vaginal layers lamina propiaand/or the layer muscularis, without undesirably causing systemic estrogeniceffects in order to avoid the risk of breast and uterinecancer. Pharmaceutical compositions for delivery of active ingredient(s)useful to the invention are disclosed.
