Abstract: An absorbent article includes an absorbent structure. The edge portions in the absorbent structure's middle portion have a first mean pore size, and the central portion in the middle portion of the absorbent structure has a second mean pore size, the first mean pore size being greater than the second mean pore size. The absorbent article can be folded along the longitudinal centre axis so that a part of the article on one side of the longitudinal centre line and a corresponding part of the article on the other side of the longitudinal centre line are brought together to lie against one another at a plane of the longitudinal centre line on the upper surface of the article. The edge portions which have the greater, first mean pore size thereby form an area of the absorbent article that is first wetted during use.

Abstract: The invention relates to an absorbent article such as a diaper, an incontinence protector, a sanitary towel or the like, having a transverse direction, a longitudinal direction and a centre axis (II) extending in the longitudinal direction, and a direction of thickness, the article comprising a liquid-permeable cover sheet (611) arranged on an upper surface of the article, a backing sheet (612) arranged on a lower surface of the article, and an absorbent structure (600) enclosed between these sheets, the absorbent structure (600) having, in the longitudinal direction, a middle portion (601) and two opposite end portions (602) and, in the transverse direction, a central portion (603) and two opposite edge portions (604).