I really don’t think that all cervical cancers are caused by STDs, but am not in a position to give stats etc. I know that those types of cancers ran through the women in my husband’s family. his grandmothers etc. died from it, and his sister died about 12 years ago from breast cancer, which from what I recall there is some “triangle” of cancers. It’s a concern that I have for my daughters, in case it’s genetic. Breast cancer certainly can be. My point being that while STDs are rampant in this day and age, I really doubt it was an issue with women off the boat from Italy around the turn of the century!
My insurance covers annual paps and mammograms and I will continue to have them, and will encourage my daughter who is engaged to be married, to do the same.
As at least two of us have said, you can do whatever you choose to do. That is your right.
My father’s grandmother died of cervical cancer. This was at a time when the only sex men could (generally) have was at local brothels. My father disliked his father for being a lousy husband and provider. I now wonder - in light of all this talk of STDs - if he didn’t cheat on the lovely lady as well. She died at 36.