man forced to compete in contest where if you win you are killed and you body is used for reproductive material

Short story from at least 25 years ago. A man visiting a planet is forced to compete for the right to die and be used for reproductive material or die trying. The men on this planet intentionally put themselves into deadly situations, so they can use their strength and reflexes to save themselves. If they die, then they weren't good enough. He wins the challenge, but the woman in charge doesn't kill him. The story was making an analogy: the men were like sperm competing to fertilize the woman's egg.