Vaginal dispenser for dispensing beneficial hormone

Claim 1

A method of treating a decrease in estrogen secretion in a woman exhibiting symptoms of a cessation of cyclical ovulation, which method comprises: (a) placing in the vagina of a woman exhibiting symptoms of a cessation of cyclical ovulation a dispenser adapted and shaped for easy placing and comfortable retention in the vagina, the dispenser comprising: (1) body means for housing and estrogen, which body means comprises a vaginally acceptable composition that is essentially-free of deleterious action on the vaginal tissues; and, (2) means in the dispenser for dispensing the estrogen from the dispenser over a prolonged period of time; (b) dispensing the estrogen from the dispenser into the vagina of said woman in a therapeutically effective amount for replacing estrogen and treating the decrease in said woman.

Claim 2

A method of treating a decrease in estrogen secretion in a woman exhibiting symptoms of a cessation of cyclical ovulation, which method comprises: (a) placing in the vagina of a woman exhibiting symptoms of a cessation of cyclical ovulation a dispenser adapted and shaped for easy placing and comfortable retention in the vagina, the dispenser comprising: (1) body means for housing and estrogen, which body means comprises a vaginally acceptable composition that is essentially-free of deleterious action on the vaginal tissues; and, (2) means in the dispenser for dispensing the estrogen from the dispenser over a prolonged period of time; (b) dispensing the estrogen from the dispenser into the vagina of said woman in a therapeutically effective amount for replacing estrogen and treating the decrease in said woman.

Claim 6

A method for relieving the symptoms associated with menopausal, perimenopausal and post-menopausal periods in a woman having said periods and in need of estrogen therapy, which method comprises: (a) placing in the vagina of a menopausal, perimenopausal and postmenopausal woman a dispenser adapted and sized for easy placing and comfortable retention in the vagina, the dispenser comprising: (1) body means for housing an estrogen, which body means comprises a vaginally acceptable composition that is essentially-free of deleterious action on the vaginal environment; and, (2) means in the dispenser for dispensing the estrogen from the dispenser over a prolonged period of time; and (b) dispensing into the vagina from the dispenser the estrogen in a therapeutically effective amount for relieving the symptoms associated with menopausal perimenopausal and postmenopausal period in said woman.

Claim 7

A method for relieving the symptoms associated with menopausal, perimenopausal and post-menopausal periods in a woman having said periods and in need of estrogen therapy, which method comprises: (a) placing in the vagina of a menopausal, perimenopausal and postmenopausal woman a dispenser adapted and sized for easy placing and comfortable retention in the vagina, the dispenser comprising: (1) body means for housing an estrogen, which body means comprises a vaginally acceptable composition that is essentially-free of deleterious action on the vaginal environment; and, (2) means in the dispenser for dispensing the estrogen from the dispenser over a prolonged period of time; and (b) dispensing into the vagina from the dispenser the estrogen in a therapeutically effective amount for relieving the symptoms associated with menopausal perimenopausal and postmenopausal period in said woman.

Claim 8

A method for relieving the symptoms associated with the menopausal, perimenopausal and postmenopausal periods in a woman having said periods and in need of estrogen therapy, which method comprises: (a) positioning in the vagina of said woman a vaginal dispenser, said vaginal dispenser comprising: (1) body means for housing an estrogenic steroid, said body means comprising a non-toxic, vaginally acceptable, flexible polymeric composition shaped and sized for easy positioning and comfortable retention in the vagina over a prolonged period of time; (2) an estrogenic steroid useful for estrogen therapy in the dispenser present in an amount sufficient for relieving the symptoms; (3) releasing means in the dispenser for dispensing the estrogen from the dispenser over a prolonged period of time; and, (b) relieving the symptoms associated with the menopausal, perimenopausal and postmenopausal periods by delivering the estrogenic steroid in a therapeutically effective amount from the vaginal dispenser to the vagina to produce the intended therapy in said woman over a prolonged period of time.

Claim 9

A method for relieving the symptoms associated with the menopausal, perimenopausal and postmenopausal periods in a woman having said periods and in need of estrogen therapy, which method comprises: (a) positioning in the vagina of said woman a vaginal dispenser, said vaginal dispenser comprising: (1) body means for housing an estrogenic steroid, said body means comprising a non-toxic, vaginally acceptable, flexible polymeric composition shaped and sized for easy positioning and comfortable retention in the vagina over a prolonged period of time; (2) an estrogenic steroid useful for estrogen therapy in the dispenser present in an amount sufficient for relieving the symptoms; (3) releasing means in the dispenser for dispensing the estrogen from the dispenser over a prolonged period of time; and, (b) relieving the symptoms associated with the menopausal, perimenopausal and postmenopausal periods by delivering the estrogenic steroid in a therapeutically effective amount from the vaginal dispenser to the vagina to produce the intended therapy in said woman over a prolonged period of time.