The present invention relates to the use of a steroid in the manufacture of a pharmaceutical composition for use in the therapeutic or prophylactic treatment of a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy (HDP) or fetal growth retardation, said treatment comprising administering to a female mammal a steroid selected from the group consisting of: substances represented by the following formula (formula I) in which formula R1, R2, R3, R4 independently are a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group or an alkoxy group with 1-5 carbon atoms； each of R5, R6, R7 is a hydroxyl group； no more than 3 of R1, R2, R3, R4 are hydrogen atoms； precursors of such substances； and mixtures of one or more of the aforementioned substances and/or precursors.
