Final answer:
The average age of menopause is approximately 51 years. Menopause marks the end of menstrual cycles and is influenced by biological and environmental factors. Smoking can accelerate its onset.
Step-by-step explanation:
The average age of menopause is about 51 years. Menopause is the cessation of menstrual cycles at the end of a woman's reproductive years. The age at which menopause occurs can be affected by a variety of factors, including biological and environmental aspects. Poor health habits, such as smoking, may lead to an earlier onset of this condition. During menopause, a woman's ovaries lose sensitivity to follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), resulting in less frequent menstrual periods until they eventually stop. Once a woman has not menstruated for a full year, she is considered postmenopausal.