Dr. Rena Malik, MD: Urologist, Pelvic Surgeon, and Author of The Hard Truth

Dr. Rena Malik is a board-certified urologist and pelvic surgeon. She treats and teaches about the urinary tract, the pelvic floor and sexual function in men and women. Her first book, The Hard Truth: Everything Men Need to Know for Good Health, Great Sex, and Long Life, will be published on November 3, 2026.

Training and clinical focus

Dr. Malik attended New York University School of Medicine. She completed her urology residency at the University of Chicago Medicine and a fellowship in Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery in the Department of Urology at UT Southwestern Medical Center.

She holds board certification in urology and in urogynecology and reconstructive pelvic surgery, both from the American Board of Urology. She is also a Menopause Society Certified Practitioner.

In 2018 she joined the University of Maryland as Assistant Professor of Surgery in the Division of Urology, where she directed Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery. Her clinical work there covered voiding dysfunction in men and women, urinary incontinence, overactive and neurogenic bladder, urodynamic testing, vaginal and robotic surgery for pelvic organ prolapse, urethral stricture, fistula, urethral diverticulum and mesh-related complications.

She later ran a private practice in California focused on sexual medicine, hormone management, bladder health and pelvic pain. That practice has closed, and her clinical work is now within the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs health system.

Topics she covers

Urology deals with both the medical and surgical treatment of the genitourinary tract, from the kidneys to the genitals. Dr. Malik's teaching concentrates on the parts of that field that patients are least likely to raise in an appointment. Her videos and podcast episodes cover:

• Erectile dysfunction, including its links to cardiovascular and metabolic health.
• Testosterone: what lowers it, when replacement is appropriate, and what it does not explain.
• Pelvic floor function in men and women, including pelvic floor physiotherapy.
• Ejaculation and orgasm disorders, including premature ejaculation.
• Prostate health, including benign prostatic hyperplasia.
• Bladder conditions, including overactive bladder, urinary incontinence and urinary tract infections.
• Menopause and its effects on urinary and sexual function.
• Sexual aids and wearable devices, including constriction bands.

One of her YouTube videos reviews wearable male sexual devices, among them conventional constriction bands and the Xialla constriction ring. 

The Hard Truth

What the book is

The Hard Truth: Everything Men Need to Know for Good Health, Great Sex, and Long Life is a guide to men's sexual health written for a general reader. The hardcover runs to 416 pages (ISBN 9798318603334). An ebook will be published on November 3, 2026, and an unabridged audiobook narrated by Dr. Malik is published by Hay House.

The book treats sexual function as a marker of general health. Its central argument, stated in the publisher's description, is that erectile dysfunction can be an early sign of heart disease, diabetes and metabolic decline. The vascular reasoning behind that link is set out in our article on erectile dysfunction and cardiovascular risk.

What it covers

The publisher's description lists sections on:

• Daily habits that support sexual function, organised as a set of pillars.
• Erectile dysfunction as an early warning of cardiovascular and metabolic disease.
• Erection quality, stamina and performance anxiety.
• Pornography, performance pressure and the beliefs they create.
• Testosterone: what lowers it, what does not, and evidence-based approaches to it.
• Communication and intimacy within a relationship.

The book also answers common questions about penis size, semen and the prostate. The opening chapters listed by the author are an introduction titled "Confessions of an Unexpected Expert", Chapter 1, "The Choice to Optimize", and Chapter 2, "Fuel: Eat Your Way to Better Sex". Nutrition, physical training including the pelvic floor, environment and confidence are the pillars around which her launch material is organised.

Who it is for

The book is written for men at any age who want to understand their sexual function, have noticed changes in erections, energy or libido, or want to prevent problems before they develop. Several of the clinicians quoted in the publisher's praise, including Mohit Khera, MD, Professor of Urology at Baylor College of Medicine, also recommend it for partners and for clinicians who treat men.

Where to preorder

• Author's book page, with links to retailers: renamalikmd.com/hardtruth
• Penguin Random House listing (hardcover and ebook): penguinrandomhouse.com
• Audiobook on Amazon/Audible: amazon.com

The author's page lists preorder bonuses, including the first two chapters as an early-access PDF.

Where to find her work

• Website: renamalikmd.com, with free guides on overactive bladder, bladder irritants, benign prostatic hyperplasia and testosterone.
• Podcast: the Rena Malik, MD Podcast, in which she interviews specialists on sexual health, relationships and general health.
• YouTube: @RenaMalikMD. According to the publisher, her educational videos have received more than half a billion views.
• Social media: @RenaMalikMD on Instagram and X.

Her private practice is closed to new patients. Veterans seeking care should contact their local VA facility directly.

Related reading

• Pelvic Floor Training for Venous Leak: What the Trials Show and How to Do It
• Testosterone and Erectile Dysfunction: What Low Testosterone Explains and What It Does Not
• Erectile Dysfunction and Cardiovascular Risk
• Peyronie's Disease: Curvature, Erectile Dysfunction, and What the Evidence Supports
• Pornography and Erectile Function: What the Evidence Shows
• Performance Anxiety and Erectile Dysfunction

Sources

• Rena Malik, MD. About. renamalikmd.com/about
• Rena Malik, MD. The Hard Truth. renamalikmd.com/hardtruth
• Rena Malik, MD. Contact Us (practice closure notice). renamalikmd.com/contact-us
• Penguin Random House. The Hard Truth by Rena Malik, MD. penguinrandomhouse.com
• University of Maryland MEMS Sensors and Actuators Laboratory. Malik, Rena. umdmsal.com/node/536
• AAMC Specialty Perspectives. Rena Malik, MD, Urology. students-residents.aamc.org
• Rena Malik, MD Podcast. Apple Podcasts