This invention describes the new 18-methyl-19-nor-17-pregn-4-ene--21,17-carbolactonesof general formula (I), in which Z means an oxygen atom, twohydrogen atoms, a grouping =NOR or =NNHSO2R, whereby R is a hydrogen atom or astraight-chain or branched-chain alkyl group with 1 to 4 or 3 to 4 carbonatoms, R4 is ahydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a methyl group, or a trifluoromethyl group, R6and/or R7can be in .alpha.- or .beta.-position, and, independently of one another, meana straight-chain orbranched-chain alkyl group with 1 to 4 or 3 to 4 carbon atoms, or R6 means ahydrogenatom, and R7 means an .alpha.- or .beta.-position, straight-chain or branched-chain alkyl groupwith 1 to 4 or 3 to 4 carbon atoms, or R6 and R7 each mean a hydrogen atom, orR6 and R7together mean an .alpha.- or .beta.-position methylene group or an additionalbond. The newcompounds have gestagenic and anti-mineral-corticoid action and are suitablefor theproduction of pharmaceutical preparations, for example for oral contraceptionand thetreatment of pre-, peri- and post-menopausal symptoms.
