A sanitary
towel (aka. a sanitary napkin, a feminine napkin, a menstrual pad)) is an absorbent item worn by women in their underwear when menstruating, bleeding after giving birth, recovering from gynecologic surgery, experiencing a miscarriage or
abortion, or in any other situation where it is necessary to absorb a flow of blood from the
vagina.
Sanitary towel is a common term to hear in the UK.