I’m Carli Lloyd.
Most people know me for my soccer career — the championships, the goals, the moments under the brightest lights. For years, my life was defined by discipline, sacrifice, and relentless pursuit of excellence.
But the most challenging and meaningful journey I’ve ever taken didn’t happen on a field.
It happened quietly, behind closed doors, in a chapter of my life I never expected to be so hard — my journey to motherhood.
After I retired from professional soccer, my husband, Brian, and I were excited to start a family.
I assumed it would happen naturally.
I was healthy.
I had spent my entire life training my body.
I believed this would be simple.
It wasn’t.
Month after month passed with no answers. And with every passing month came confusion, disappointment, and a growing sense of isolation.
I quickly learned something that so many women already know: fertility doesn’t care how strong you are, how disciplined you’ve been, or how badly you want something.
Eventually, we turned to IVF — a decision that came with hope, fear, exhaustion, and emotional weight I wasn’t prepared for.
The process tested me in ways competition never had.
I felt vulnerable.
I felt frustrated.
At times, I felt broken.
And for the first time in my life, I realized that strength didn’t mean pushing through in silence. Strength meant allowing myself to feel it all — and letting others support me.
I didn’t walk this path alone.
My husband stood by me every step of the way.
Family, friends, and doctors helped carry me through moments when hope felt fragile.
IVF is not a straight line.
There are setbacks.
There are days when it feels impossible to stay optimistic.
But I kept showing up — even when I was scared, even when I didn’t know the outcome.
That perseverance changed me.
Then came the moment that made everything worth it.
I learned I was pregnant.
There are no words that fully capture what that moment felt like.
Relief.
Gratitude.
Awe.
And a deep understanding that this journey — as hard as it was — had meaning beyond me.
It wasn’t just about becoming a mother. It was about learning compassion for myself and for every woman walking a similar road.
I’m telling my story because I know how lonely fertility struggles can feel.
I know what it’s like to wonder “Why isn’t this working?” and to quietly carry emotions you never expected to face.
This space is for you if you’ve ever:
Felt isolated in your fertility journey
Questioned your body or yourself
Carried hope and heartbreak at the same time
Needed reassurance that you’re not weak for struggling
You are not alone. And you are not failing.
I want to offer you honesty, encouragement, and connection.
If my story helps even one woman feel seen, understood, or less alone — then sharing it is worth it.
You can read up on my story here in Women’s Health.
Strength isn’t just about winning championships or pushing past pain.
Sometimes, it’s about patience.
Sometimes, it’s about asking for help.
And sometimes, it’s about holding onto hope and “TRUST” like my husband, Brian, repeated to me— even when the outcome is uncertain.
Wherever you are on your journey, I’m standing with you.
You’re stronger than you think — and your story is still being written.
Love,
Carli
