We already knew that exercise is good for you but now there is another benefit other than losing weight, getting stronger, and getting to wear some sexy gear. A study from Roswell Park Cancer Institute says that women who exercise regularly are at a lower risk for cervical cancer. The researchers aren’t exactly sure what the link between physical activity and cervical cancer is but the results are clear, women who engage in regular activity are diagnosed with cervical cancer at a much lower rate.

Previous studies have already shown that women who exercise are already much more likely to get screened for cervical cancer, which leads many to believe that good exercise patterns and preventative health habits are highly linked. The study that Roswell Park conducted had 128 women who were already diagnosed with cervical cancer compare their lifestyle and overall fitness habits with 521 women who had abnormal growths which turned out not to be cervical cancer.

The results were overwhelming in that the women who did not have cervical cancer had a far higher rate of physical activity than those that did have cervical cancer. It is important to take every preventative measure you can. Roughly, 13,000 women will be diagnosed with cervical cancer and over 4,000 women will die from it. The majority of cases present in middle aged women under 50. This represents a large cross section of women right as their bodies begin to slow down, so exercise is even more important. Of course, the best defense against this and any form of cancer is regular screenings. But this and other studies generally agree that regular exercise can help avoid pre-cancerous cells from even developing in the first place.

Four beautiful woman exercising in the gym with dumbbell