[Born Conservative]

The best protection from cervical cancer is yearly pap smears.

Pap smears do not "protect" against cervical cancer. They can DIAGNOSE cervical cancer at an early stage, but protect infers that it will prevent it from happening, and a Pap smear does not do that.

[dangerdoc]

Pap smears like colonoscopy can diagnose dysplastic (precancerous) changes that can be treated prior to the development of cancer.