Abstract: A compound sanitary napkin including a primary absorbent member and a secondary absorbent member. The primary absorbent member has a length and a width. The secondary absorbent member has a length and a width. The primary absorbent member and the secondary absorbent member have a common length. The primary absorbent member preferably includes an absorbent core and a fluid pervious topsheet superposed on the absorbent core. The secondary absorbent member preferably includes a fluid pervious topsheet, a fluid impervious backsheet joined to the topsheet and an absorbent element positioned between the topsheet and the backsheet. The primary absorbent member is affixed to the secondary absorbent member by union means. The width of the secondary absorbent member is at least 1.5 times the width of the primary absorbent member.