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A teenager had to have surgery to remove 29 magnetic balls from his bladder - three months after he put them up his penis.

The "curious" schoolboy named Li, 13, suffered intense abdominal pain - but was too embarrassed to tell his parents about it.

Howeverit got too agonising for him, and he was forced to see medical attention.

Li was treated at Xi'an Children's Hospital in north west China after being admitted on May 11.

X-rays revealed the magnetic beads had formed a tight cluster under his bladder - meaning he had to go under the knife.

(Image: AsiaWire)

Urologist Zhang Yanyan said: "Roughly three months ago, while the boy was playing with the magnetic balls, he lined them up in a row and inserted them up his urethra out of curiosity.

"By the time he felt discomfort and tried to pull them out again, the magnets separated and some remained inside his urethra.

(Image: AsiaWire)

(Image: AsiaWire)

"During this time, the boy didn't tell his parents because he was too embarrassed, but the child admitted to experiencing abdominal pains for three months.

"He thought he could expel through urinating, not knowing that it would not have been possible to do so.

"His parents only discovered three months later when they noticed him walking with a limp and questioned him about it.

(Image: AsiaWire)

(Image: AsiaWire)

"We were unable to remove them in microsurgery, so we opened up his bladder and removed the entire cluster of magnetic balls - all 29 of them."

The teenager is recovering well after surgery and has already been discharged to continue his recuperation at home.

"Kids in puberty are curious about their bodies," Zhang said, adding: "They need proper guidance and education from their parents."