Final answer:
Most women reach menopause, the cessation of menstrual cycles, between the ages of 45 and 55 with an average age of 52 years. Menopause marks the end of a woman's reproductive years and is diagnosed after one year without menstruation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Menopause is the time in a woman's life when her menstrual cycles cease, marking the end of reproductive fertility. The average age of menopause is 52 years, but it can occur normally between about 45 and 55 years of age. A variety of biological and environmental factors can influence this age range, and certain conditions or habits, like smoking, can lead to an earlier onset of menopause.
Menopause is typically preceded by a period in which menstrual cycles become irregular, known as perimenopause. A woman is considered to have reached menopause once she has not had a menstrual period for a full year, after which she is referred to as postmenopausal. During this time the ovaries lose their sensitivity to follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), leading to a decrease in egg production and eventually causing the menstrual cycle to end.