The 17&bgr；-cyano-19-nor-androst-4-ene derivatives of the present invention possess gestagenic activity. They have the general chemical formula 1, in which Z is selected from the group comprising O, two hydrogen atoms, NOR and NNHSO2R, in which R is hydrogen or C1-C4-alkyl, R4 is hydrogen or halogen, furthermore either: R6a, R6b together form methylene or 1,2-ethanediyl or R6a is hydrogen and R6b is selected from the group comprising hydrogen, methyl and hydroxymethylene, and R7 is selected from the group comprising hydrogen, C1-C4-alkyl, C2-C3-alkenyl and cyclopropyl, or: R6a is hydrogen and R6b and R7 together form methylene or are omitted with formation of a double bond between C6 and C7, R9, R10 are hydrogen or are omitted with formation of a double bond between C9 and C10, R15, R16 are hydrogen or together form methylene, R17 is selected from the group comprising hydrogen, C1-C4-alkyl and allyl, where at least one of the substituents R4, R6a, R6b, R7, R15, R16 and R17 is unequal to hydrogen or R6b and R7 are omitted with formation of a double bond between C6 and C7, and moreover comprise their solvates, hydrates, stereoisomers, diastereomers, enantiomers and salts.
