removal string 20 is incorporated into the absorbent mass 12 proximate the withdrawal end 18 the absorbent mass 12 may or may not be sheathed in a coverstock 14 that is capable of allowing the flow of menses or other body fluid therethrough if the coverstock 14 is included the removal string 20 can be tied thereto proximate the withdrawal end 18 in its initial form fig1 the pledget 10 is cylindrical in shape during use the pledget 10 expands in response to the absorption of menses or other body fluids to an anthroprometric geometry fig2 in order to approximate the shape of a vaginal cavity into which the pledget is inserted as used herein the phrase u201c anthroprometric u201d is intended herein to indicate expandable upon contact with fluid to conform to a bounded area referring specifically to fig1 the absorbent mass 12 is defined by an absorbent material this absorbent material is generally rayon cellulosic material such as cotton or paper or combinations of the foregoing although other materials are within the scope of the present invention in one embodiment the absorbent material is defined by one or more webs 24 these webs 24 are woven strands of material in the alternative the webs 24 may be open cell foam or sponge the present invention is not limited to woven strands of material foam material or sponge however as other forms of the materials such as felts or other non stranded materials may be.