An 11-year-old boy in east China had to undergo surgery after inserting 70 magnetic balls into his penis.

The youngster's parents took him to hospital in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province early Monday morning after he suffered from constant pain and difficulty urinating.

Doctors successfully removed the tiny magnetic balls during a two-hour operation, according to Chinese media reports.

A 11-year-old boy in east China had to undergo surgery after inserting 70 magnetic balls into his penis. Doctors successfully removed the tiny magnet balls during a two-hour operation

An X-ray scan revealed the Buckyballs, each about five millimetres (0.2 inches) in diameter, bundled together in his bladder after the child had pushed them up via his urinary tract

Dr Tao Chang of the Children's Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine said the boy, nicknamed Xiaohua, was reluctant to admit what had happened.

An X-ray scan revealed the Buckyballs, each about five millimetres (0.2 inches) in diameter, bundled together in his bladder after the child had pushed them up via his urinary tract.

'As children mature, it is normal for them to become more curious about their bodies,' Dr Tao told Metropolis Express, adding that it is vital for teachers and parents to communicate with children to help them understand the changes in their bodies.

Doctors conducted a minimally invasive surgery to extract the balls during an endoscopy

Eventually, doctors conducted a minimally invasive surgery to extract the balls via the boy's bladder during an endoscopy.

'Regular surgery would require a 10-centimetre (4-inch) incision, but with microsurgery the opening is minimised to just 1 centimetre (0.4 inches),' Tao said, adding that the young patient is expected to make a full recovery.

Tao said he had previously operated on pubescent boys found with objects such as sewing needles, cables and copper wire up their urethras.

In January, a 12-year-old boy in Wuhan, Hubei province underwent surgery to remove 39 magnetic beads after inserting them into his penis

In January, a 12-year-old boy in Wuhan, Hubei province underwent surgery to remove 39 magnetic beads after inserting them into his penis.

The child, nicknamed Xiaorui, later admitted that he had inserted the beads into his penis out of curiosity.

In May last year, a 14-year-old toddler in Qinhuangdao, Hebei province had to undergo surgery to remove 21 magnetic beads after swallowing them from a toy.

The balls had formed a ring in his stomach, causing a fever and severe vomiting.