Absorbent product containing an elastic absorbent component

The present invention relates to absorbent articles. More particularly, the present invention relates to an absorbent article which includes an elastically stretchable absorbent structure. The absorbent article can exhibit improved levels of softness, fit and leakage resistance. An absorbent article () has a longitudinal direction (), a lateral, transverse direction (), an article front portion (), an article back portion (), and an intermediate portion () interconnecting the front and back portions. The article includes an elastomerically stretchable backsheet member (), a liquid-permeable topsheet layer (), and an elastomerically stretchable retention portion () sandwiched between the backsheet member () and the topsheet layer (). The topsheet layer can be elastomerically stretchable, and the absorbent article () can also provide a selected combination of physical properties, such as a composite-article elongation-at-peak-load value which is at least about 50 percent.