Abstract: An absorbent article with a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction and displaying a crotch part (7) and two end parts (5, 6) and comprising a liquid-permeable cover layer (2) intended to face towards a user during use, a liquid-impermeable cover layer (3) intended to face away from the user during use and an absorbent body (13) enclosed between the two cover layers (2, 3). The two cover layers (2, 3) have differing extensibility in the transverse direction of the article. A forming element (16; 514; 814), which is rigid in the transverse direction and which extends in the transverse direction of the article at least in the crotch part (7) is permanently attached to at least one component in the article, whereby compression of the article in the transverse direction will force the forming element (16; 514; 814) to curve in a direction towards the most extensible cover layer (2; 503; 802, 803).