One aspect of the invention is concerned with a method of hormone replacement therapy, which method comprises administering to a person in need of such a therapy an effective amount of an estrogenic component selected from the group consisting of: substances represented by the formula in which formula R1, R2, R3, R4 independently are a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group or an alokxy group with 1-5 carbon atoms; each of R5, R6, R7 is a hydroxyl group; and no more than 3 of R1, R2, R3, R4 are hydrogen atoms; precursors capable of liberating a substance according to the aforementioned formula when used in the present method, and mixtures thereof; said composition containing virtually no progestogen or anti-progestin. Another aspect of the invention relates to a drug delivery system for enteral or parenteral administration that contains at least 1 μg of the aforementioned estrogenic component and virtually no progestogen or anti-progestin.