Final answer:
Carole has experienced menopause, a process that results in the permanent loss of a woman's reproductive capacity due to changes in hormone sensitivity in the ovaries. The correct option is a.
Step-by-step explanation:
Carole has experienced menopause, a physiological process that marks the end of a woman's reproductive years. As women reach their mid-40s to mid-50s, their ovaries lose sensitivity to follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), which means that menstrual periods eventually cease and no viable eggs are produced. Consequently, women enter menopause, resulting in the permanent loss of reproductive capacity.
Hence, a is the correct option.