An absorbent article, especially an incontinence pad, having a length and a width extension, the length being greater than the width, and including absorbent core material, wherein the absorbent core material forms a central portion (6) and a pair of longitudinally extending side portions (7), the flexural rigidity of the article (1) at the side portions (7) is between 3 and 20% of the flexural rigidity of the article (1) of the central portion (6) at a location opposite the side portions (7), preferably between 4 and 15%, most preferred between 4 and 10%.