I later discovered that she was a cervical cancer survivor. She told me she had been clean the last time she got tested. But I have recently discovered that she has had an abnormal test result again. 

Sex with someone who has had cervical cancer is no more risky for HPV than with any other female partner. When HPV infections result in cancer, that strain is no more likely to cause cancer than infection with the same HPV type without cancer. And the virus is no more transmissible to partners just because there is past cervical cancer, or even with currently active (as yet untreated) cervical cancer. Your partner's more recent "abnormal test result" is not at all alarming in regard to your risk of HPV.

Assuming you have had an average sex life -- new partners from time to time -- you can be sure you have been infected with HPV, at least with genital infection and perhaps oral. Your oral sex with this particular partner did not significantly elevate the chance of you having HPV (including cancer-causing types). To put it another way, catching and then carrying HPV is a normal, expected, unavoidable aspect of human sexuality. You should have another dose of HPV vaccine -- you're already fairly well protected after just one dose, but 2 doses are necessary for solid and permanent immunity to the 9 HPV types that cause 90% of health problems caused by HPV (cancers, genital warts, etc). However, vaccination has no effect on previously acquired HPV infections.

There's been a lot of online buzz and media attention about oral cancers and HPV, much of it exaggerated and alarming. Here are some things to know. First, the risk is only for pharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (i.e. throat cancer -- not all oral cancers. Second, only one type of HPV (HPV 16) explains almost all throat cancer cases. Third, the large majority of oral HPV 16 infections do NOT lead to cancer. 

All things considered, the situation isn't as alarming as you might have thought. You are at very low risk of any significant health outcome on account of the sexual event you are concerned about.

I hope these comments are helpful. Let me know if anything isn't clear.

HHH, MD

Thanks a ton for responding. Just wanted to clarify a few things. 

1. I didn't have oral sex or any sex with my partner who had previously had cervical cancer. But kissed her in a bunch of places over the waist and a lot of deep making out and kissing. 

2. I only got one dose of the HPV vaccine and that was about 6 months after this encounter. 

This was pretty much my only sexual encounter (below average sex life I guess). And I still had a few questions I would greatly appreciate your help on.

1. In light of the clarifications above do you have any idea if I'm at risk of throat issues? Is there any way to get tested for HPV in the throat? I have gotten an orarisk saliva swish test for HPV and that was negative. 

2. Additionally given that I have had one dose of the vaccine 9 months ago, should I aim to complete the course or would I be starting a new course of vaccines? 

2. I understood you've only had one dose of vaccine. That's why I advised a second dose. It will be highly effective no matter how long after the first dose.

Since you've not yet been truly sexually active, I would reemphasize the normality of getting and having HPV. Assuming someday your sex life moves forward as for most humans, you can expect to get it and have it. Half of all people acquire HPV within their first three lifetime sex partners, and at least 80-90% of all humans eventually are infected. And although condoms reduce the risk for any single exposure, in the long run consistent condom users have the same risk as non-users, because of skin-to-skin contact above the condom's coverage.