Final answer:
Menopause is the end of menstruation and fertility in women, typically occurring around age 50 to 52, signified by a year without menstruation and caused by decreased sensitivity of the ovaries to certain hormones.
Step-by-step explanation:
Menopause Definition and Implications
Menopause is the cessation of menstrual cycles at the end of a woman's reproductive years, marking the loss of fertility. This biological event occurs due to a decrease in the sensitivity of the ovaries to Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) and Luteinizing Hormone (LH), resulting in the depletion of ovarian follicles and the hormones they produce. A woman is considered to have reached menopause after not menstruating for a full year and is then termed postmenopausal. The average age for menopause is between 50 and 52 years, although it can normally happen anytime in a person's forties or fifties. Factors such as poor health and smoking can lead to an earlier onset of menopause.
After menopause, due to the absence of viable egg production, women are no longer fertile and cannot conceive children naturally. The postmenopausal phase is associated with various biological and physiological changes and may affect the overall health of the individual.