Novel methods for treating or reducing the likelihood of acquiring symptomsor diseases due to the menopause, in postmenopausal women, particularly osteoporosis,vaginal atrophy and dryness, 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 of menopause, in susceptible warm-bloodedanimals including humans involving administration of a sex steroid precursorare disclosed. Said method comprising novel ways of administering and dosingdehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in order to take advantage of positive androgeniceffects in the vaginal layers lamina propia and/or the layer muscularis, withoutundesirably causing systemic estrogenic effects in order to avoid the risk ofbreast and uterine cancer. Pharmaceutical compositions for delivery of activeingredient(s) useful to the invention are disclosed.
