A tampon has two pledgets or one pledget with an absorbent layer and a leak shield located therebetween. The pledgets or pledget with the absorbent layer and the leak shield are folded such that the leak shield covers a portion of the surface of at least one of the pledgets. Both pledgets or the one pledget with the absorbent layer have absorbencies that are each greater than an absorbency of the leak shield. In another embodiment of the tampon, the leak shield comprises a fluid impervious or fluid repellent material(s). In another embodiment of the tampon, the leak shield comprises of an absorbent or hydrophilic material. Yet in another embodiment, the leak shield comprises of multiple layers of materials that are hydrophilic, hydrophobic, or a combination thereof. A method of fabricating a tampon includes forming a pledget, combining a fluid-impervious polymer material with an absorbent material to define a polymer laminate, ramming the pledget and the laminate into an oven tube, and stitching the laminate to the pledget.