Flexible and breathable absorbent articles and their fixation to undergarments

A flexible and breathable absorbent article for use in an undergarment, said article optionally comprising protective side flaps, said article comprising a breathable backsheet having a garment facing surface and said article comprising an absorbent core;

• said garment facing surface comprising an adhesive to adhere said article to said undergarment, said adhesive having an actual adhesive surface and said adhesive defining a theoretical adhesion surface inside of an endless line which is the shortest encircling line of the adhesive without extending beyond the periphery of the garment facing surface;
• said backsheet comprising an inner layer and an outer layer, said inner layer being closer to said absorbent core than said outer layer;
• said article being characterized in that
• said outer layer comprises a hydrophobic, gas-permeable fibrous fabric layer composed of polymeric fibers;
• said inner layer comprises a hydrophobic, gas-permeable polymeric film;
• the surface ratio of said actual adhesive surface to said garment facing surface is in the range of 0.2 to 0.8;
• the surface ratio of said theoretical adhesion surface to said garment facing surface is in the range of 0.6 to 1.0 for articles without said protective side flaps, and in the range of 0.5 to 1.0 for articles with said protective side flaps;
• and
• said article has a flexibility of 1300 mg×cm to 5000 mg×cm measured according to modify ASTM D1388.