Final answer:
Menopause is the cessation of menstrual cycles that occurs as a result of the loss of ovarian follicles and hormones. A woman is considered to have completed menopause if she has not menstruated for a full year. The average age for menopause is between 50 and 52 years old.
Step-by-step explanation:
Menopause is the cessation of menstrual cycles that occurs as a result of the loss of ovarian follicles and the hormones they produce. A woman is considered to have completed menopause if she has not menstruated for a full year. The average age for menopause is between 50 and 52 years old, but it can occur in a woman's forties or fifties. Poor health and smoking can lead to earlier menopause.