This could be due to differences in when women in these countries started using oral contraceptives, as well as trends related to childbirth (how many children a woman has also seems to be linked to her ovarian cancer risk) and trends in the use of hormonal replacement therapy (HRT) for treating the symptoms of menopause.Looking at larger trends in mortality like these is important for researchers, but this isn't a reason to start birth control pills if you're not already taking them, necessarily. What's more important is taking findings like these into consideration when weighing your birth control needs as well as your individual risks. If you have a family history of ovarian cancer, for example, this might be welcome news for you. However, as the American Cancer Society notes, the use of hormonal birth control may slightly increase your risk for other cancers, so you may find that other methods of birth control are better for you. These are all things you should discuss with your doctor.If you're already happily taking the pill, though, you can count this as yet another surprising benefit of that trusty monthly pack.