A recent study has given women one more reason to look into the option of taking birth control pills.

Besides offering protection against pregnancy among other helpful benefits, the pill has now been linked to protection against ovarian cancer.

The study, conducted by the Collaborative Group on Epidemiological Studies of Ovarian Cancer and led by Oxford University researchers, found that oral contraceptives can offer ovarian cancer protection for up to 30 years after a woman has stopped taking the pill.

"This is good info for women to be aware of in making a decision of whether to use oral contraceptives," said Jill Buchanan, a nurse practitioner in Women's Health at University Health Services (UHS).

"As in so many things, both risk and benefit must be examined with medication use and this must be individualized, based on personal medical history," she said.

The researchers collected evidence from 45 studies of ovarian cancer in 21 countries and found that protection was greater for women who took the pill for a longer period of time.

A woman who takes the pill for 15 years can cut her risk for ovarian cancer by half, the study reports. The pill can also offer protection against endometrial cancer, researchers found.

For college women, it can be tough to find time to fit in a visit to a gynecologist or women's health professional; however, UHS offers many types of oral contraceptives without an exam.

Students are also encouraged to meet with a women's health professional and discuss what options work best for them, said Beth Collitt, marketing manager of UHS.

For women with no family history of ovarian cancer, this additional protection offered by the pill is a benefit that must be considered when deciding if the pill is right for them, Buchanan said.

Some students said the additional protection is beneficial, but that it wasn't one of their deciding factors to begin taking birth control pill.

"I think that I have heard that there are studies, but that's not one of the reasons that I got on it," Laura Hadsall (sophomore-health policy and administration) said.

For other women, the results of the study could be reason enough for them to consider beginning an oral contraceptive.

"I mean I wouldn't run right out and get it now, but yeah, this would make me want to get it eventually," Janine Marczak (sophomore-marketing and advertising) said.

Students looking for oral contraceptive information are encouraged to visit www.sa.psu.edu/uhs or call UHS to speak to someone directly.