Patented is a tampon featuring a mass of absorbent material formed into a self-sustaining shape. The self-sustaining shape includes an insertion end, a withdrawal end and a center region. The insertion end is opposed to the withdrawal end and the center region is located between the insertion end and the withdrawal end. The insertion end has a perimeter at the insertion edge and the withdrawal end has a perimeter at the withdrawal edge. The perimeter at the insertion edge is less than the perimeter at the withdrawal edge. The self-sustaining shape has an outer surface that is substantially serpentine and the tampon has continually changing volume.