An increase of HCG-levels is a good sign during early pregnancy. HCG (human chorion-gonadotropin) is a hormone produced by the embryo’s chorion (the layer that covers the embryo). HCG prevents the disintegration of the corpus luteum to maintain progesterone production. When doctors detect HCG in a woman's system, it is used to confirm a pregnancy and to monitor the development of the pregnancy. Normal pregnancies register a rapid increase in the the levels of HCG rapidly in the first 10 weeks of pregnancy; HCG levels double every 48 hours (2 days) . During ectopic pregnancies, the level of HCG in the body also increases, but at a rate that is less than 66% once every 2 days. In cases of miscarriage, the HCG-levels can even decrease over time. During the first trimester of pregnancy, progesterone is produced by the yellow body (corpus luteum graviditatis). Later, the placenta produces progesterone rather than the yellow body. Progesterone is necessary for the development of the endometrium and placenta, for relaxation of the uterus’s musculature, and for breast development that prepares them for lactation. If there is not enough progesterone in the system, it can be supplemented using progesterone suppositories.
For now, it seems that there are no present indications for an ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage. Now, you can understand why the doctors are monitoring HCG and progesterone levels. To learn more, you might find it helpful to visit: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/ar ticle/000895.htm. Please let us know how helpful this answer was by responding via private message to the administration at username: admin.