Is your menstrual cycle regular or irregular? According to Prevention.com, your answer may predict your chances of getting ovarian cancer.

Researchers from the Public Health Institute in Berkeley, California tracked the health of 14,000 pregnant women from 1959 to 1967 and found that those who missed their periods or those who took more than 35 days to get their menstruation again exhibited higher risks of getting ovarian cancer.

The findings are contrary to the popular belief that women with irregular menstrual cycles have a lower risk of developing the condition.

However, the researchers emphasized that women with irregular periods should not get too paranoid. “The lifetime risk for ovarian cancer is about 1 in 71,” explains Barbara Cohn, PhD, lead researcher and director of Child Health and Development Studies at the Public Health Institute. She adds, “That’s relatively small, and two times a small risk is still a small risk.”

But just to be extra careful, you may track your monthly visitor using apps like Period Tracker or simply by marking your calendar. You may also consult your OB-GYN if you'd like to regulate your period.

(Photo by Dafne Cholet via Flickr Creative Commons)