The 17β-cyano-19-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, R1, R2 are each independently hydrogen or methyl, or R1 and R2 together form methylene or are omitted with formation of a double bond between C1 and C2, 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 hydrogen and R6b and R7 together form methylene or are omitted with formation of a double bond between C6 and C7 or: R6a is methyl and R6b and R7 are omitted with formation of a double bond between C6 and C7, R15, R16 are hydrogen or together form methylene, R17 is selected from the group comprising hydrogen, C1-C4-alkyl and allyl, and moreover comprise their solvates, hydrates, stereoisomers, diastereomers, enantiomers and salts, with the proviso that particular compounds are excluded.