The invention relates to the use, optionally together with oral contraception, of estradiol valerate or 17β-estradiol in combination with 17α-cyanomethyl-17-β-hydroxyestra-4,9-dien-3-one (dienogest) in a multistage or single-stage combination preparation for oral therapy to maintain and/or increase feminine libido.The total number of daily dose units of the multistage combination and of a pharmaceutically harmless placebo or a single-stage combination and optionally the pharmaceutically harmless placebo-containing or placebo- and hormone-free daily dose units amounts to 28 daily dose units.