A disposable sanitary napkin intended to be worn in an undergarment of a user, the sanitary napkin comprising: (a) a main body: (i) having a length, a width, and a thickness; (ii) comprising an absorbent system, a topsheet, and a backsheet; and (iii) having a pair of side edges extending along the length thereof; (b) a pair of bridged flaps (10, 20) comprising (i) a first, substantially straight edge (101, 201); (ii) a second, shape-cut edge (102, 202) defining a projecting portion; (iii) a bridging segment of a release liner having at least one zone of pressure sensitive adhesive arranged and configured for attachment to the projecting portion of each bridged flap; wherein each bridged flap (10, 20) is attached to the top sheet such that the first, substantially straight edge (101, 201) of each shaped strip is aligned with a corresponding side edge of the main body to form an outwardly disposed flange seal, the bridged flaps (10, 20) are disposed over the topsheet, and each side flap is arranged and configured to be releasable from the bridging segment of the release liner and to be articulable away from the topsheet of the sanitary napkin and to be secured to a crotch portion of an undergarment for use whereby the flange seals are disposed inwardly toward the crotch portion of the undergarment, wherein each bridged flap (10, 20) is bonded to the topsheet, and wherein the corresponding side edge of the main body is a corresponding side edge of the topsheet. (a) a main body: (i) having a length, a width, and a thickness; (ii) comprising an absorbent system, a topsheet, and a backsheet; and (iii) having a pair of side edges extending along the length thereof; (i) having a length, a width, and a thickness; (ii) comprising an absorbent system, a topsheet, and a backsheet; and (iii) having a pair of side edges extending along the length thereof; (b) a pair of bridged flaps (10, 20) comprising (i) a first, substantially straight edge (101, 201); (ii) a second, shape-cut edge (102, 202) defining a projecting portion; (iii) a bridging segment of a release liner having at least one zone of pressure sensitive adhesive arranged and configured for attachment to the projecting portion of each bridged flap; (i) a first, substantially straight edge (101, 201); (ii) a second, shape-cut edge (102, 202) defining a projecting portion; (iii) a bridging segment of a release liner having at least one zone of pressure sensitive adhesive arranged and configured for attachment to the projecting portion of each bridged flap; wherein each bridged flap (10, 20) is attached to the top sheet such that the first, substantially straight edge (101, 201) of each shaped strip is aligned with a corresponding side edge of the main body to form an outwardly disposed flange seal, the bridged flaps (10, 20) are disposed over the topsheet, and each side flap is arranged and configured to be releasable from the bridging segment of the release liner and to be articulable away from the topsheet of the sanitary napkin and to be secured to a crotch portion of an undergarment for use whereby the flange seals are disposed inwardly toward the crotch portion of the undergarment, wherein each bridged flap (10, 20) is bonded to the topsheet, and wherein the corresponding side edge of the main body is a corresponding side edge of the topsheet.