A sanitary napkin for wearing in a wearer's undergarment, said sanitary napkin having a longitudinal axis extending in a longitudinal direction, a lateral axis extending in a lateral direction, two spaced apart longitudinal edges, and a central portion, said sanitary napkin comprising:
- a liquid pervious topsheet;
- a liquid impervious backsheet joined to said topsheet;
- an absorbent core positioned between said topsheet and said backsheet;
- and
- a pair of flaps, one flap being joined to and extending laterally outward from each longitudinal edge in said central portion, wherein said flaps comprise an elastically extensible knitted material.