There has been long-standing controversy over whether or not the birth control pill is actually safe. Shortly after it was first marketed in 1960, many scientists began to speculate that birth control pills increased the risk of breast cancer. Then, in 1969, researchers discovered a possible link between birth controls pills and the occurrence of blood clots, but the finding was still murky. Despite the many warnings, however, many women continued to take oral contraceptives with very minimal side-effects. Just last week, however, a surprising report published in the British Lancet revealed clear evidence that "the pill" actually protects against ovarian cancer.

The report examined a large population of women, including over 23,000 with ovarian cancer and roughly 87,000 without ovarian cancer, in 45 different locations worldwide. British scientists found that using the pill for 10 or more years not only reduced the chance of acquiring ovarian cancer by 30 percent, but also protected women at this same rate for 30 or more years after stopping pill usage. The study also shows decreased risk across many different ethnicities, education levels, and medical histories in women who are taking the pill.

Ovarian cancer is one of the most aggressive forms of reproductive cancer affecting nearly 22,430 women in the United States, according to the American Cancer Society. More than 60 percent of these cases resulted in fatalities just last year.

The cancer is also very difficult to detect early because of limited screening methods and hidden symptoms. By the time the cancer is discovered, it is usually profuse over the entire ovary. Dr. Pam Das, senior editor to the Lancet said that in the United States, ovarian cancer is "the most common cause of death in reproductive organs." Since the disease is usually advanced at the point of detection, physicians use extremely radical and typically ineffective treatments to eliminate the cancer. Unfortunately, ovarian cancer cases among women have continued to rise steadily since 1987.

But "the pill" has actually done a considerable amount to protect women from developing ovarian cancer already. Valerie Beral, from the Cancer Research UK Epidemiology Unit at Oxford University, reported that the pill "has almost now been around for 50 years and over that period about 200,000 fewer women worldwide have developed ovarian cancer because of the pill, and about 100,000 fewer have died from ovarian cancer before they were 75."

In the future, Beral predicted "that there will be about over 30,000 fewer women developing ovarian cancer."

The cancer preventative effects of birth control pills have sparked much controversy over whether or not the pill should be made available over the counter. In the United States, many more women would be able to use OTC birth control pills because they would cost significantly less money. Without health insurance, the cost of the pill can range from anywhere between $15 and $25 a month. In addition, the required initial gynecological exam and follow-up visits can be very expensive; the initial exam costs $45 to $125, and the necessary follow-up visits cost $30 to $60. Even if you have health insurance, many policies will cover the visits, but will not pay for the price of the pills.

But the medical community warns that this economical advantage would cause serious health risks, in eliminating the need for a gynecological exam and follow-up visits. It is important that gynecologists take a patient history, which may provide red flags for physicians because the likelihood of blood-clotting and cervical cancer may already exist within the family.

There are other more important concerns than cost when it comes to choosing a pill that is both effective and safe to use.

The first set of pills that are prescribed last for one month, with two refills. The pill takes seven days to become effective. Prescriptions that last six to nine months are only given after a normal follow-up examination is conducted.

An over-the-counter birth control pill could be a very inexpensive way to prevent ovarian cancer, but at the same time, would probably cause many health issues for women. The pill should only be prescribed by physicians on an individual basis. In the meantime, a more practical method for dispensing safe and inexpensive birth control pills to uninsured women should be devised so that they too can experience the same preventative benefits.