Pad

Abstract

An absorbent interlabial pad 10 of substantially uniform thickness comprises at least two connected layers of nonwoven material and at least two preformed fold lines 22, 24 substantially parallel to i

Description

The present invention relates to a pad, more particularly to an interlabial pad. There have been many products used in feminine hygiene, especially menstruation products. These include non-disposable products such as menstrual cups, and washable period underwear and period pants. These are seen as environmentally friendly, but do involve planning and work in having them available and cleaning them ready for reuse. Disposable menstrual products are very popular, and include insertable tampons, menstrual pads and panty liners. These are more convenient, but should be disposed of carefully as they are not suitable to be flushed down a toilet into the sewage system. There exists a need for convenient and disposable feminine hygiene products. According to the present invention, there is provided an absorbent interlabial pad having a body-contacting surface, a garment-facing surface opposing the bodycontacting surface, an interior region, and a peripheral region which surrounds the interior region, the body-contacting surface being liquid permeable, the absorbent interlabial pad comprising a longitudinal axis and a latitudinal axis, and having a longitudinal length and a latitudinal width, where the longitudinal length is greater than the latitudinal width, the interlabial pad comprising at least two layers of non-woven material which are connected to each other, the pad comprising at least two predefined fold lines substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, and wherein the pad is substantially the same thickness across the pad. Preferably, the absorbent interlabial pad is petal shaped, leaf shaped, substantially oval, preferably substantially elliptical. Conveniently, the absorbent interlabial pad has a latitudinal width of from about 50 mm to about 90 mm and a longitudinal length of from about 70 mm to about 110 mm, more preferably a latitudinal width of from about 60 mm to about 80 mm and a longitudinal length of from about 80 mm to about 100 mm, and most preferably a latitudinal width of about 70 mm and a longitudinal length of from about 90 mm. Advantageously, the ratio of the longitudinal length to the latitudinal width of the pad is from about 1: 1.1 to about 1: 2, preferably from about 1: 1.1 to about 1: 5, more preferably about 1: 1.3. Preferably, the layers are connected together around the peripheral region, preferably wherein the layers are connected by embossing, crimping, needle punching and / or by a water-soluble adhesive, more preferably wherein the layers are connected by embossing. Conveniently, the layers are connected together by an embossed line around the peripheral region. Advantageously, the embossed line comprises a series of embossed areas separated by gaps, preferably wherein the embossed areas are each about 0.5 mm wide and about 1.2 mm long and the gaps between adjacent embossed areas are each about 1.28 mm long. Preferably, the predefined fold lines are formed by embossing, pre-folding, slitting or scoring. Conveniently, each of the predefined fold lines comprise a series of embossed areas separated by gaps, preferably wherein the embossed areas are each about 0.5 mm wide and about 1.2 mm long and the gaps between adjacent embossed areas are each about 1.28 mm long. Advantageously, the pad has two predefined fold lines, preferably wherein the predefined fold lines are from about 1 mm to about 10 mm apart, preferably from about 2 mm to about 8 mm apart, more preferably from about 3 mm to about 6 mm apart, most preferably about 6 mm apart. Preferably, the pad has two layers of non-woven material. Conveniently, the pad does not contain an absorbent core of material different from the non-woven material of the layers. Advantageously, the non-woven material of the layers has a majority of fibres that are substantially orientated parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pad. Preferably, the pad is flushable. According to the present invention, there is provided a method of making an interlabial pad comprising connecting at least two layers of non-woven material together to form an interlabial pad having a body-contacting surface, a garment-facing surface opposing the body-contacting surface, an interior region, and a peripheral region which surrounds the interior region, the body-contacting surface being liquid permeable, the absorbent interlabial pad comprising a longitudinal axis and a latitudinal axis, and having a longitudinal length and a latitudinal width, where the longitudinal length is greater than the latitudinal width, the interlabial pad comprising at least two layers of non-woven material, with adjacent layers being connected to each other, the pad comprising at least two predefined fold lines substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, and wherein the pad is substantially the same thickness across the pad. Preferably, the method makes a pad as described above. The present invention will now be described with reference to the following figures, in which: Figure 1 shows an interlabial pad according to the invention. Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view of an interlabial pad of the invention. Figure 3 shows a folded interlabial pad of the invention. Figure 4 shows an interlabial pad in the hand of a user. Figure 5 shows a folded interlabial pad in the hand of a user. Figure 6 shows a user preparing to apply a folded pad between their labia minora. Figure 7 shows a user wearing an interlabial pad. A years' worth of disposable menstrual products generates around 8.9kg of CO2 and 60 plastic bags worth of plastic per person. Each year, these products generate around 200,000 tonnes of waste into UK landfill. Around 5M menstrual products are unintentionally flushed every day in the UK, negatively impacting both sewage systems and oceans, contributing to the mass sewer blockages that costs the UK £88M annually to remove. Similar problems and issues arise in other countries. The present application is aimed at addressing the significant environmental and economic impact of current products, while generating an innovative new flushable category in this industry. There are many feminine hygiene products available, some of which are disposable and some of which are reusable. The disposable products generally need to be disposed of as conventional solid waste (garbage / trash), often along with a wrapper and / or disposal bag. They cannot readily be flushed down a toilet into conventional sewage systems as they pose a clogging and / or contamination risk. The present invention aims to provide a convenient disposable feminine hygiene product in the form of a flushable interlabial pad. The interlabial pads of the invention are intended to be suitable to be flushed down a toilet or otherwise disposed of into conventional sewage systems. The pads are flushable in that they meet requirements and tests which are recognised to determine suitability for disposal into sewage systems. As will be described below, the tests determine how easily and to what extend a product comes apart and reduces in sizes of pieces in model systems. Products which meet the requirements of such tests are considered to be suitable for disposal in sewage systems as they would be expected to come apart into such small pieces that they do not pose a clogging and / or contamination risk. As will be explained in more detail below, the interlabial pads of the invention are intended to be used to absorb fluids such as menstrual fluid and vaginal discharge, and then be disposed by flushing down a toilet. The materials and manufacturing methods used result in a pad that can be flushed into the sewage system. Also, as will be explained in more detail below, the interlabial pads of the invention are intended to be convenient in use, as they can easily be placed against the user’s vaginal vestibule, by being placed between the spread inner labia (labia minora). The pad remains in place to absorb menstrual fluid and vaginal discharge. The used pad can then simply be safely flushed away down a toilet. Other benefits of the pads of the invention include portability, discretion, and potential cost-effectiveness. The products described and claimed herein are referred to as flushable interlabial pads, As will be explained, the products can be used as an interlabial pad, in that they can be conveniently placed between the labia of a user to absorb fluids such as menstrual discharge. The products can also be used in other ways, such as for personal hygiene and convenience, including to absorbing urine in cases such as incontinence, and for absorbing sweat, for example by being placed under the breasts or in the armpit. The products of the invention can be referred to as flushable interlabial pads or flushable interlabial liners for example. Both of these terms may be used to refer to the same products and are considered to be interchangeable. Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the drawings as follows. In Figure 1, an interlabial pad 10 is shown having a generally oval shape. Pads of the invention can have other shapes but a substantially oval shape is preferred. The pad 10 shown comprises two layers of non-woven material that are connected to each other as will be explained in more detail below. In Figure 1 the pad 10 has two surfaces and is shown with a body-contacting surface 12 on one side (the top side as shown) and a garment-facing surface 14 on the other side (not shown). In the pad 10 shown, there is no difference between the body-contacting surface 12 and the garment-facing surface 14 in terms of construction and materials. In other embodiments, there can be a difference between the two surfaces, such as the presence or absence of a coating. Preferably, interlabial pads of the invention do not have additional layers or coatings, such as a top sheet. The absorbent interlabial pad 10 has a body-contacting surface 12, a garment-facing surface 14 opposing the body-contacting surface, an interior region, and a peripheral region which surrounds the interior region, the body-contacting surface being liquid permeable. In use, fluids such as menstrual fluid and vaginal discharge can permeate the body-contacting surface to be absorbed by the material of the pad. The pad 10 comprises two layers of non-woven material that are connected together. Other embodiments of pads may have more than two layers of non-woven material that are connected together. The pad 10 has a peripheral region which surrounds an interior region. Around the peripheral region of the pad 10 there is a discontinuous line 16 formed by embossing. The line 16 comprises embossed areas 18 where the material of the two layers of the pad 10 are compressed and connected together. The embossed areas 18 are separated by gaps 20, forming the generally oval-shaped line 16. In the pad 10 as shown, the embossed areas 18 are each about 0.5 mm wide and about 1.2 mm long and the gaps 20 between adjacent embossed areas are each about 1.28 mm long. Other methods of connecting the layers of the pad can be used. Preferably, the layers are mechanically connected together, in that the layers are not joined by using additional materials such as polymers which may reduce the flushability of the pads. Other suitable methods for connecting the layers include sonic bonding and hydroentanglement.The layers can be connected together by embossing, crimping, needle punching and / or by a water-soluble adhesive, preferably by embossing. The oval shaped pad 10 has a longitudinal axis and a latitudinal axis. The pad 10 has a longitudinal length between the two ends of the pad along the longitudinal axis, and a latitudinal width between the two sides along the latitudinal axis .The longitudinal length is greater than the latitudinal width (thus defining the oval shape). In the embodiment shown the pad has a longitudinal length of about 90 mm and a latitudinal width of about 70 mm. The pad 10 shown has a major radius of about 57.86 mm and a minor radius of about 27.22 mm, an area of about 49.48 cm2 and a circumference of about 252.31 mm. The pad shown is substantially elliptical in shape. Pads of the invention can have other shapes, such as petal shaped or leaf shaped. Shapes other than oval or elliptical can also be used. Preferably, the pad does not have any apertures, projections or tabs on the external surfaces, and instead is substantially planar on each of the two sides. The weight of the pad 10 is about 0.5 g. Other pads can weigh less or more depending on the design and material used. The pad is intended to be folded by the user ready for application to their body, between their inner labia. The ensure that the pad folds in the desired orientation and shape the pad 10 comprises two predefined fold lines 22 and 24 substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis. The predefined fold lines 22 and 24 are provided across the majority of the longitudinal length of the pad 10. As the user holds and folds the pad 10, the provision of the two predefined fold lines 22 and 24 ensure that the pad 10 folds over along the longitudinal length of the pad to give a smooth fold of a desired shape and size. In the pad 10 shown, the predefined fold lines 22 and 24 are spaced about 6 mm apart. In other embodiments the predefined fold lines can be from about 1 mm to about 10 mm apart, preferably from about 2 mm to about 8 mm apart, more preferably from about 3 mm to about 6 mm apart, most preferably about 6 mm apart. Also, in the pad 10 shown, the predefined fold lines 22 and 24 are substantially parallel to each other. The construction of the fold lines 22 and 24 in the pad 10 is similar to that of the peripheral line 16. The fold lines 22 and 24 each comprise a discontinuous line formed of comprises embossed areas 26 where the material of the two layers of the pad 10 are compressed and connected together. The embossed areas 26 are separated by gaps 28, forming the fold lines 22 and 24. In the pad 10 shown, the embossed areas 26 are each about 0.5 mm wide and about 1.2 mm long and the gaps 28 between adjacent embossed areas are each about 1.28 mm long. In the pad 10 as shown, the predefined fold lines 22 and 24 extend over the majority of the length of the pad. The lines do not need to extend completely from one end of the pad to the other, but they need to be of sufficient size so that they help the user to correctly fold the pad along the desired fold line (i.e. along the longest axis of the pad) and cause the desired curved folded shape of the pad. So, each of the predefined fold lines preferably extends at least 30%, preferably at least 50%, more preferably at least 70% and most preferably at least 90% of the longitudinal length of the interlabial pad. Other methods of connecting the layers of the pad can be used. Preferably, the layers are mechanically connected together, in that the layers are not joined by using additional materials such as polymers which may reduce the flushability of the pads. Other suitable methods for forming the predefined fold lines include sonic bonding, hydroentanglement, pre-folding, slitting or scoring. The area of the pad that is embossed or otherwise provides mechanical connection between the layers non-woven material is preferably relatively small. This helps to maximise the beneficial properties of the interlabial pad, including liquid permeability and absorption. Preferably, the area of a pad that is embossed is no more than about 5% of the total surface area of the pad. Figure 2 shows a cross section of the pad 10 along the line X-X of Figure 1. The pad 10 comprises two layers 30 and 32 connected together. The external surface of the upper layer 30 forms the body-contacting surface 12, and the external surface of the lower layer 32 forms the garment-facing surface 32. The cross-sectional view shows that the layers 30 and 32 are connected together at the embossed areas 18 of the peripheral line 16, and the embossed areas 26 of the predefined fold lines 22 and 24. As shown, the pad 10 is substantially the same thickness across the pad. This means that the pad 10 does not have any substantial bulges or thicker sections. The presence of the longitudinal line 16 and fold lines 22 and 24 do not substantially change the overall thickness across the width of the pad. Although the pad 10 is shown as comprising two layers, other embodiments may comprise more than two layers, such as three layers, four layers, or more. Preferably, the pad comprises two layers. Preferably, the pad does not contain a core or insert in addition to the layers themselves. This results in simpler manufacturing methods, improved controlled folding, and improved comfort and flushability. The layers forming the pads of the invention comprise non-woven material. Preferably, the layers are formed from the same material (as shown in pad 10 in Figure 1). In other embodiments, the layers of the pad may be formed from different non-woven materials. Figure 3 shows a side view of a folded pad 10. When a user holds and folds the pad 10, the pad 10 folds along the longitudinal axis in a manner controlled by the predefined fold lines 22 and 24. As shown, the spaced apart fold lines 22 and 24 help the pad form a smooth and curved fold 34. The formed curved fold 34 is smoother and less sharp compared to a folded pad without the predefined fold lines 22 and 24. This smoother fold has a number of benefits. The curved fold 34 enables the pad to be more accurately placed in the correct position between the inner labia as it more closely conforms to the shape of the anatomy. Also, the curved fold 34 provides a more comfortable fit and experience for the user. In addition, the curved fold 34 ensures that the pad is folded in the correct orientation to ensure the most efficient fit to absorb menstrual fluid and vaginal discharge, as well as other possible uses including absorbing urine and sweat. The non-woven material of the pad 10 is formed of natural fibres, such as cellulosic material. The fibres of the non-woven material of the layers 30 and 32 of the pad 10 are generally aligned with the longitudinal axis of the pad. This means that the fibres tend to be orientated along the longest axis of the pad, but does not mean that all fibres are orientated exactly in that direction. This preferred orientation means that the pad 10 folds in a controlled way, and gives a more comfortable experience for the user wearing the pad. Preferably, the non-woven material of the layers has a majority of fibres that are substantially orientated parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pad. One of the benefits of this feature is increased comfort for the user. The applicant has found that there is a very significant effect on drapability of the pad along the central folding lines in that the alignment of the fibre direction along the longitudinal axis results in a softer feel and has much softer edges. Another benefit is that the orientation of fibres help to distribute (wick) any liquid along the length of the pad, optimising the overall absorbency of the pad in use. The interlabial pads of the invention can be made using suitable manufacturing methods known in the art. The invention provides a method of making an interlabial pad comprising connecting at least two layers of non-woven material together to form an interlabial pad having a body-contacting surface, a garment-facing surface opposing the body-contacting surface, an interior region, and a peripheral region which surrounds the interior region, the body-contacting surface being liquid permeable, the absorbent interlabial pad comprising a longitudinal axis and a latitudinal axis, and having a longitudinal length and a latitudinal width, where the longitudinal length is longer than the latitudinal width, the interlabial pad comprising at least two layers of non-woven material, with adjacent layers being connected to each other, the pad comprising at least two predefined fold lines substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, and wherein the pad is substantially the same thickness across the pad. The pads can be individually packaged for cleanliness and convenience. The intended use of the pads will now be described with reference to the figures as follows. Figure 4 shows a user holding a fresh interlabial pad 10 in their hand 36. In this initial state, the pad is substantially flat and not folded. As shown in Figure 4, the oval shaped pad 10 has subtle predefined fold lines along the length of the pad to show the user where to fold before placing it between their labia. These predefined fold lines help to improve user comfort, ease of insertion, and placement stability of the pads of the invention. Figure 5 shows the next step, where the user has folded the pad 10 in their hand 36, to form a controlled curved shape ready for use. The softly rounded shape of the pad 10 helps ensure the correct folding and application of the pad. The next step is illustrated in Figure 6, where the user has spread their labia ready to apply the folded pad 10 to their body against the opening to their vagina (vaginal vestibule). The pad 10 will remain in place in contact with the body, between the folds of the labia. The user can then adjust the pad for comfort and fit. Figure 7 shows a front view of a user wearing an interlabial pad under their clothes, with the pad in the correct position between their labia. When the user wishes to remove the pad, they can simply flush the used pad down the toilet. As well as being used to absorb menstrual fluid and vaginal discharge, the pads of the invention can also be used in other personal hygiene situations, including being placed under breasts or in the armpits. The pads of the invention can also be used to help with light incontinence. For menstrual use, the pads can be used for light flow, and can also be used in conjunction with other products for heavier flow. The pads are constructed from non-woven materials and meet the requirements for flushability, as determined by various known test methods. Such methods include the specifications listed in the INDA-EDANA Guidelines for Assessing the Flushability of Nonwoven Products, Fourth Edition 2018 (GD4) and also the IWSFG Flushability Specifications. These guidelines are freely available to the public from The Association of the Nonwovens Fabric Industry (INDA), for example from their website at www.inda.org. Interlabial pads of the invention comprising nonwoven material have been shown to meet the requirements for flushability as set out in those guidelines. The tests included FG501: Toilet and Drainline Clearance Test, FG502: Slosh Box Disintegration Test, FG503: Household Pump Test, FG504: Settling Test, FG505A: Aerobic Biodisintegration Test, FG506A Anaerobic Biodisintegration Test and FG507: Municipal Sewage Pump Test. A preferred non-woven material for use in manufacturing the interlabial pads of the invention is BioFlush non-woven material (available from Akinal, Turkey), which is a natural fibre product with good flushability properties. Suitable non-woven materials include natural materials (rather than synthetic polymers), including cellulose, viscose, rayon, lyocell, wood pulp, bamboo, cotton, hemp, flax, other plant-derived materials and combinations thereof. The interlabial pads of the invention can have an overall grammage of from about 80 gsm to about 300 gsm, preferably from about 100 gsm to about 200 gsm, more preferably from about 120 gsm to about 180 gsm. The non-woven material used in the layers of the interlabial pad may have a grammage of from about 20 gsm to about 120 gsm, preferably from about 40 gsm to about 100 gsm, more preferably from about 50 gsm to about 90 gsm. The use of at least two layers of material in the interlabial pads of the invention has a number of benefits. These include increases in the absorbency, and also the softness and drapability as compared to the use of a monolithic or unitary construction of pad, which significantly improves application and wearing comfort. A benefit of the use of at least two layers is that the presence of empty volume between the layers is beneficial for the distribution of the liquid over the entire surface of the pad, which means that the existing absorption capacity can be better utilized. The layers of the interlabial pad are connected to one another mechanically, preferably without the use of binders (such as glue) or other materials (such as threads). This has benefits including simpler manufacturing methods, and that the softness of the product is not impaired allowing for an optimum user experience. Connecting the layers together as described above (such as by embossing) provides sufficient stability of the pad for use. In addition, the absence of binders and mechanical fasteners improves the drapability and liquid management of the interlabial pad, and possible adverse effects on flushability are avoided, since the product can quickly break down into the individual layers when wet and agitated by water movement. The strength of the mechanical connections between layers (such as embossing) and / or the internal strength of the interlabial pads is lower when the pads is wet compared with when the pad is dry. The lower strength of the integrity of the pad when wet helps to achieve the desired disintegration and the flushability of the product, as the layers can mechanically disintegrate when disposed of in the toilet. This provides advantages over a thicker single layer product. The preferred method of connecting the layers of the pad, and creating the predefined fold lines, is embossing. The embossed pattern can have the same or different elements. It can be lines, dots, dash-dots, waves, ornamental motifs (such as flowers, clouds, etc.). In addition, further decorative embossing that differ from the initial embossing can be applied to the free areas of the interlabial pad (e.g. clouds, feathers, etc.). These can be applied as decorative embossing only to the individual fleece layers before the layers are embossed to form the finished layer composite, whereby they do not serve as a connecting embossing but only for the visual design. Alternatively, they can penetrate the majority of the fleece webs and thus serve to improve the adhesion of the layers to each other. As mentioned above, the total embossed area is preferably no more than about 5% of the total surface areas. Preferably, the interlabial pad has the same basis weight over the entire product area. At the same time, the product has differences in thickness at the embossing points. At points of higher density (e.g. where the pad material has been embossed) the material is thinner at those points, for example having at least 25% loss in thickness. The use of these techniques (including embossing) to connect the layers has a number of benefits. As well as avoiding the use of additional materials, the techniques can improve comfort and flexibility. For example, the use of an embossed line with gaps to connect the layers results in improved flexibility of the pad. An embossing line can be applied around the peripheral region of the pad, for example as shown in Figure 1 (seam embossing). For example, the strength of the product in the wet state (e.g. 300% impregnation level, 30 minutes after moistening) is at least 7 N in the machine direction (MD) and minimum 5 N in the cross direction (CD), and maximum 10 N in the CD / MD direction. The flexural rigidity of the product in the dry state is maximum 30 in the CD direction and max 90 in the MD direction. The interlabial pads are preferably packaged together in a V-shape (slightly pre-folded at the central embossed line), which allows easier removal of the product by the user. A preferred material for use in the interlabial pads of the invention is a flushable material with a composition of about 80% cellulose pulp and about 20% viscose, but other proportions can be used. Preferably, interlabial pads of the invention comprises layers of non-woven material having a grammage of about 75 GSM. The above embodiments are to be understood as illustrative examples of the invention. Further embodiments of the invention are envisaged. It is to be understood that any feature described in relation to any one embodiment may be used alone, or in combination with other features described, and may also be used in combination with one or more features of any other of the embodiments, or any combination of any other of the embodiments. Furthermore, equivalents and modifications not described above may also be employed without departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined in the accompanying claims. Conjunctive language such as the phrase “at least one of X, Y or Z,” unless specifically stated otherwise, is to be understood to present that an item, term, etc. may be either X, Y, or Z, or any combination thereof, including multiples of each element. Unless explicitly described as singular, “a” means singular and plural.

Claims

1. An absorbent interlabial pad having a body-contacting surface, a garment-facing surface opposing the body-contacting surface, an interior region, and a peripheral region which surrounds the interior region, the body-contacting surface being liquid permeable, the absorbent interlabial pad comprising a longitudinal axis and a latitudinal axis, and having a longitudinal length and a latitudinal width, where the longitudinal length is greater than the latitudinal width, the interlabial pad comprising at least two layers of non-woven material which are connected to each other, the pad comprising at least two predefined fold lines substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, and wherein the pad is substantially the same thickness across the pad.

2. An absorbent interlabial pad according to claim 1 which is petal shaped, leaf shaped, substantially oval, preferably substantially elliptical.

3. An absorbent interlabial pad according to claim 1 or 2 which has a latitudinal width of from about 50 mm to about 90 mm and a longitudinal length of from about 70 mm to about 110 mm, more preferably a latitudinal width of from about 60 mm to about 80 mm and a longitudinal length of from about 80 mm to about 100 mm, and most preferably a latitudinal width of about 70 mm and a longitudinal length of from about 90 mm.

4. An absorbent interlabial pad according to any preceding claim, wherein the ratio of the longitudinal length to the latitudinal width of the pad is from about 1: 1.1 to about 1: 2, preferably from about 1: 1.1 to about 1: 5, more preferably about 1: 1.3.

5. An absorbent interlabial pad according to any preceding claim wherein the layers are connected together around the peripheral region, preferably wherein the layers are connected by embossing, crimping, needle punching and / or by a water-soluble adhesive, more preferably wherein the layers are connected by embossing.

6. An absorbent interlabial pad according to claim 5 wherein the layers are connected together by an embossed line around the peripheral region.

7. An absorbent interlabial pad according to claim 6 wherein the embossed line comprises a series of embossed areas separated by gaps, preferably wherein the embossed areas are each about 0.5 mm wide and about 1.2 mm long and the gaps between adjacent embossed areas are each about 1.28 mm long.

8. An absorbent interlabial pad according to any preceding claim wherein the predefined fold lines are formed by embossing, pre-folding, slitting or scoring.

9. An absorbent interlabial pad according to claim 8 wherein each of the predefined fold lines comprise a series of embossed areas separated by gaps, preferably wherein the embossed areas are each about 0.5 mm wide and about 1.2 mm long and the gaps between adjacent embossed areas are each about 1.28 mm long.

10. An absorbent interlabial pad according to any preceding claim which has two predefined fold lines, preferably wherein the predefined fold lines are from about 1 mm to about 10 mm apart, preferably from about 2 mm to about 8 mm apart, more preferably from about 3 mm to about 6 mm apart, most preferably about 6 mm apart.

11. An absorbent interlabial pad according to any preceding claim which has two layers of non-woven material.

12. An absorbent interlabial pad according to any preceding claim wherein the pad does not contain an absorbent core of material different from the non-woven material of the layers.

13. An absorbent interlabial pad according to any preceding claim wherein the nonwoven material of the layers has a majority of fibres that are substantially orientated parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pad.

14. An absorbent interlabial pad according to any preceding claim which is flushable.

15. A method of making an interlabial pad comprising connecting at least two layers of non-woven material together to form an interlabial pad having a body-contacting surface, a garment-facing surface opposing the body-contacting surface, an interior region, and a peripheral region which surrounds the interior region, the body-contacting surface being liquid permeable, the absorbent interlabial pad comprising a longitudinal axis and a latitudinal axis, and having a longitudinal length and a latitudinal width, where the longitudinal length is greater than the latitudinal width, the interlabial pad comprising at least two layers of non-woven material, with adjacent layers being connected to each other, the pad comprising at least two predefined fold lines substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, and wherein the pad is substantially the same thickness across the pad.

16. A method according to claim 15 wherein the pad is as defined in any of claims 1 to 14.