Just a FYI my kids were taught at school to never ever ask casual acquaintances if they want kids (or if they have kids, if they haven’t already told you). This came as a bit of a surprise to me. But my kids explained to me that yes it can be a very sensitive and personal question to many people.

As you found out, as well as the IVF thing, it also ties into issues of religion, hetero-normativity, the role of women in society, body control, ability and disability etc etc.

Best to stick to safer topics like the weather, the price of biscuits, roadworks, local news, the Ukraine war, global sports events, recent films, TV series etc.