Absorbent article with improved fit

Absorbent article having a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction, a front portion, a rear portion, a crotch portion located between the rear portion and the front portion, an absorbent element and a liquid-tight layer, and a stiffening area which is intended to contribute to the three-dimensional shape of the article during its use, wherein the stiffening area is in a plane state before use of the article, the stiffening area, seen in the longitudinal direction of the article, includes a first, front stiffening part area in the front portion of the article and at least one further, second stiffening part area which is separate from the first part area, wherein at least at a transition between the crotch portion and the front portion, a soft transition space is arranged between said stiffening part areas, said separate first and second stiffening part areas and soft transition space being arranged so as to control the positioning of the article on the wearer, the width of the first part area exceeding the distance between the muscle tendons of the wearer on both sides of the crotch of the wearer in the groin of the latter, and the soft transition space being arranged to as to come to lie directly in front of said muscle tendons of the wearer.