A useful comparison starts with function, not slogans. Pads, tampons, cups and period underwear can all be part of period care, but they do different jobs and create different routines.
The NHS describes period products as products that absorb or collect menstrual flow. That single distinction helps explain why routines differ.
For menstrual cups, documented features include measurements, capacity to the holes, material stated by the manufacturer and included accessories. MonthlyCup Normal, for example, is listed as 43 mm in diameter, 55 mm long without the stem, 65 mm including the stem and 22 ml capacity to the holes.
This page does not claim guaranteed leak prevention, a fixed lifetime, medical suitability, quantified environmental impact or actual savings. Those claims are not supported by the supplied source pack for this guide.
The MonthlyCup Normal Pink product page lists medical-grade silicone and manufacture in Sweden. It also states that the product is supplied with a fabric storage pouch and an instruction manual.
Pads and some period underwear are external options. The supplied source pack does not provide brand-level feature comparisons for them.
Tampons and cups are internal options. The NHS notes that both tampons and cups can take practice.
The NHS states that cups collect menstrual flow and can be washed and reused. Read manufacturer instructions carefully before first use.
Comparison scope: NHS period information and MonthlyCup manufacturer information. This is not a clinical comparison or independent product test.