Certain infections are called "sexually tranmitted" for good reason: sex itself is required for them to be transmitted, and body rubbbing without penetration doesn't count. STIs are not symply genital area infections that can be transmitted by any genital contact. It really does require sex itself. You were not at risk at all and you did not need testing for anything. You can trust your negative test results, whatever they were. If you have a regular partner, you can safely continue your usual sexual practices without putting that person at risk for anything.

FYI, it is against forum policy for users to have multiple accounts. In the future, stick with the one you used for your two previous discussions.

Best wishes and stay safe--  HHH, MD

I've read online that STIs like syphilis and herpes can in fact transmit without sex itself. Why would other sources state that there is a possibility of transmission without penetration if "body rubbing without penetration doesn't count"? I keep reading elsewhere that the virus could shed from other parts of the body.

That some STIs are transmitted primarily by skin contact does not mean ANY skin contact. It's genital-to-genital contact only, and almost always with penetration. There is no STI/HIV risk from the skin surfaces you mention.

"I've read online that STIs like syphilis and herpes can in fact transmit without sex itself." First, nonprofessional online resources are notoriously unreliable, especialy sites by and for people wiht a particular problem or afraid of it. Like reddit, for example. Second, probably such cases have occurred; if so, they are exceedingly rare. This group of infections is called "sexually transmitted" for good reason:  sex itself (typically meaning penile penetration) is required for them to be passed from person to person. The exceptions are rare enough to be ignored.

And no, redness of the meatus (urethral opening) doesn't suggest a chancre. From this description, I am confident the appearnce of your meatus isn't abnormal anyway.