An absorbent article, such as a sanitary napkin, having flaps with a combination of first and second stress relief means for relieving the stresses that develop in the flaps when the flaps are folded down along the edges of the wearer's panties in the crotch. The flaps extend laterally outward from the main body portion of the article. The flaps are associated with the main body portion at a juncture along the longitudinal edges of the main body portion. The flaps have a first stress relief means located remote from the juncture. The first stress relief means can be either a slit or a notch. The flaps have at least one second stress relief means contiguous with the first stress relief means. The second stress relief means is a zone of differential extensibility. The zone of differential extensibility can be capable of greater extension in a generally longitudinal direction than other portions of the absorbent article. The zone of differential extensibility can be made of corrugated or ring-rolled portions of the absorbent article.