Final answer:
Menopause is the cessation of the menstrual cycle that occurs as a result of the loss of ovarian follicles and hormones. Average age is between 50-52 but can occur in forties or fifties. Poor health and smoking can lead to earlier menopause.
Step-by-step explanation:
Menopause is the cessation of the menstrual cycle that occurs as a result of the loss of ovarian follicles and the hormones that they produce. It is considered complete if an individual has not menstruated in a full year. After that point, they are considered postmenopausal. The average age for this change is consistent worldwide at between 50 and 52 years of age, but it can normally occur at any time in a person's forties or fifties.
Poor health, including smoking, can lead to earlier loss of fertility and earlier menopause.